Govt. to stop imports of egg and chicken from next year

Tuesday, 26 September 2023 00:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government has decided to abandon plans for egg and chicken meat imports in light of the local production surge.

The Agriculture Ministry has declared its decision to forgo the import of eggs next year and concurrently has dropped plans for importing chicken meat.

This shift in approach marks a sign towards achieving greater self-sufficiency in the poultry industry.The move comes in the wake of an agreement reached by domestic producers to lower chicken prices, coupled with an upswing in production levels.

Previously, Trade Minister Nalin Fernando mooted plans to import chicken meat in response to soaring prices. However, local producers have now taken the initiative on two separate occasions to slash prices averting the need for imports.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera emphasised that the surging prices of eggs and chicken have attracted a large number of individuals to enter the industry, signalling a potentially revived sector.

He also pointed out that with the current surge in production, consumers can anticipate a downward trend in prices for both eggs and poultry in the coming months. Despite eggs continuing to be sourced from India due to a lingering shortage, it is anticipated that the Ministry will phase out this practice at the outset of the coming year.