Former Director General of Agriculture K. B. Gunaratne said that there is a high risk of bird flu spreading in the country due to the import of eggs from India.
He told the media that the relevant egg stock was ordered from Tamil Nadu where bird flu is prevalent.
He also said that the price of eggs in Tamil Nadu has come down due to the bird flu.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security said that the standard report regarding the quality of eggs to be imported from India will be received today.
The import of eggs was delayed due to the non-receipt of this report which should be issued by the Animal and Health Department of India.
Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara alleged in Parliament that a government member had demanded Rs.75 million to import Indian eggs.
The small and medium scale poultry businessmen of the North-West Province criticized Trade Minister Nalin Fernando’s decision to import eggs from India.
They said that the minister has taken steps to import eggs from India instead of strengthening local egg producers by lowering the price of raw materials.
They pointed out that if the price of raw materials is reduced, an egg can be sold at a price of Rs.25.
Meanwhile, SJB MP Thushara Indunil alleged that there was a large-scale tax fraud behind the move to import eggs.
However, the quantity of two million eggs to be imported from Tamil Nadu can be used only for bakery products as ingredients and it is prohibited to release the egg shells into the environment as well.
