THE government has lifted restrictions on egg imports as a way to overcome the current domestic shortage, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said today.

According to Mohamad, the ministry will ensure imported eggs are free from diseases and meet regulatory standards.

“The ministry recognises the necessity of eggs, which are a popular daily source of protein, with an average consumption rate of 968 million eggs per month.

“The initiative to import eggs is not to pressure local producers. It is instead meant to ensure that supply is not disrupted and that the people’s welfare is taken care of,” he said in a statement.

Mohamad said import volume will be reviewed once supplies have stabilised, which will be monitored by the ministry’s secretary-general.

He added that Agrobank has also been asked to come up with suggestions to help suppliers and smallholders stay competitive.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government will unveil a new mechanism to regulate the market price of eggs.

“This will reduce dependency on cartels. We hope that supplies will be sufficient and, as announced earlier, the price of eggs can be reduced,” he said today after chairing a special cabinet meeting.

Earlier this year, poultry breeders had complained that rising costs were forcing them to reduce their livestock, causing disruption to the nationwide supply chain.

Following this, then agriculture and food industries minister Ronald Kiandee announced an increase in subsidies for chicken breeders and chicken egg producers.

Currently, the subsidy, which will continue till the end of the month, is at a rate of 80 sen/kg for chickens and 8 sen/egg.

The maximum retail price of grade A chicken eggs is 45 sen each, 43 sen for grade B and 41 sen for grade C on the peninsula, while for Langkawi, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, the maximum prices of chicken and eggs vary, depending on the zones and districts. – December 6, 2022.