'Logistics woes main problem'
Govt move to import eggs slammed
Five associations involved with the livestock industry and the veterinary field blamed the government for mismanagement of logistics during the flooding, causing a shortage of eggs.
They said there was no shortage of egg supply despite the flooding but transport problems were making it difficult to deliver the eggs to consumers in some areas.
Their accusation followed a decision by the government to import 400,000 eggs from Malaysia as early as possible to increase supply during the flooding.
The Thai Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA), the Animal Husbandry Association of Thailand, the Thai Poultry Veterinary Association, the Thai Swine Veterinary Association, and the World Poultry Science Association’s Thailand branch highlighted the issue at a news conference yesterday.
“To stem the rising price of eggs and solve a supply shortage in some areas, the government must improve logistical efficiency and set up distribution centres for eggs so as to ensure adequate supply to flood victims,” TVMA president Dr Achariya Sailasuta said.
The sector also urgently called on the government to abandon its plan to import eggs during the floods, as there were high concerns about food safety. It warned that egg imports would harm Thai food exports in the near future.
“The government should carefully review its plan to allow import of eggs to solve the supply problem in the country,” Achariya said. “Only 2 per cent of the total daily production of 25 million to 28 million eggs was damaged by the floods. The government should solve the logistics problems rather than increase supply by importing eggs.”
She explained that imported eggs could bring risks to food-safety standards as they could carry disease, including bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli.
Thailand is one of the world’s leading egg exporters. It exports about 200 billion eggs a year to Asean countries, Hong Kong and many nations elsewhere in Asia.
Dr Sujate Chuenchom, a lecturer at Kasetsart University, said the Thai food-supply-chain industry, worth Bt50 billion, that used eggs as ingredients could face export difficulties next year if the government allowed egg imports.
Importers would lose trust in the food processing, as imported eggs have lower safety standards than those produced in the Kingdom. He said the government should also carefully consider whether to allow any imports of meat or fresh food during the floods or in any future natural crisis, as Thailand is one of the world’s major food producers and exporters.
So far, only 10 per cent of livestock production has been damaged by the floods. Domestic consumers are therefore unlikely to face supply shortages, Sujate pointed out.
Dr Jiroj Sasipreeyajan, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, agreed there was a risk of imported eggs being contaminated. Imported eggs will not be as fresh as those produced in the Kingdom, Jiroj noted.
