Will import eggs again to meet demand: Minister

• Egg producers hold bakery owners and intermediaries responsible for the sudden increase in price

Considering the high demand and shortage during the upcoming New Year festive season, Trade Minister Nalin Fernando firmly said that he will start importing eggs again to cater to the demand.  

The decision was announced following a meeting with egg producers.   During the discussion with the Trade Minister, the egg producers claimed that they were unable to reduce the egg prices until the end of Christmas and told the Minister that they had taken a collective decision not to sell eggs in the retail market for less than Rs. 55.

The egg producers requested the Minister not to tell them to bring the egg prices below Rs. 45 until the end of Christmas, and that the egg prices will come down automatically after December 20.  

However, the Minister told the egg producers that maintaining the egg selling price at Rs. 55 cannot be continued. During discussions with the Minister, the egg producers said that bakery owners and intermediaries were responsible for the sudden egg price increase.  

If this seasonal situation continues, we will have to import eggs before the Sinhala Tamil New Year.
Therefore, the Minister firmly said that he would start importing eggs again to cater to the demand.