August 25, 2004

 

 

Bird Flu Raises Demand For New Zealand Eggs

 

New Zealand poultry farmers have shipped 40,000 eggs to Singapore as prices in the nation soar in the wake of a ban on imports from Malaysia.

 

The price for 10 fresh eggs in Singapore has jumped by nearly 50 per cent to S$2.20 (NZ$1.97) the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said in a statement.

 

Singapore egg producers are presently talking about pushing the price up to S$4 (NZ$3.59) a carton.

 

Before the ban, Singapore imported two million eggs, or two-thirds of its supply, from Malaysia every day.

 

It is now looking elsewhere to make up for the shortfall. A consignment of almost a quarter-million eggs is due from Australia early next month.

 

"Major retailers are actively seeking supplies of table eggs from other countries," the AVA said.

 

Mainland Poultry managing director Michael Guthrie, said his company had been supplying "a trickle" of specialty eggs to Singapore since its farms at Waikouaiti were accredited by Singaporean authorities two years ago.

 

The farms - which supply about 40 per cent of New Zealand's eggs - usually send 1,000 or 2,000 dozen eggs in regular shipments, with a focus on eggs from chickens which have been given enriched feeds.

 

The AVA has signaled to New Zealand farmers that it would not need to individually inspect exporting farms, but would accept health standards which were equivalent to their requirements.

 

"As much as it's distressing for them, it is an opportunity," Mr Guthrie said of the egg shortage in Singapore. But getting sea freight to Singapore would be difficult, while air freight would be expensive.

 

Mr Guthrie, who is also chairman of the Egg Producers' Federation, said the Malaysian bird flu crisis should be seen in New Zealand as more than a trade opportunity.

 

"It does show why our stringent biosecurity controls are important," he said. New Zealand had an element of protection through its ban on egg imports. But it still needed to keep up its guard.

 

Biosecurity officials have just started surveillance of domestic wildfowl, and will check samples from migrating birds arriving over the next few months in order to determine whether any forms of bird flu is found in the wild.

 

"That's the balance for us - it's an opportunity, but it is also a very sobering reminder of the importance of biosecurity," Mr Guthrie.

 

Individual farmers needed to be careful in isolating their flocks and their food from wild birds, in addition to keeping unnecessary visitors off their properties, particularly people who returned from overseas recently.

 

Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority is also urging Australia, Denmark and the Netherlands to help farms obtain the accreditation needed to ship produce into the tightly regulated country of four million people.

 

Singapore Government ministers have said it is unclear how long the Malaysian ban - which also covers poultry - will last, but have suggested it will be several weeks.

 

Michael Brooks, executive director of the Poultry Industry Association, said there were potential opportunities for New Zealand chicken farmers, who were normally handicapped in export markets by the high cost of feed grain in New Zealand.

 

The per capita income levels in Singapore were higher than in New Zealand, and cost might not be the main factor for many buyers of poultry meat.

 

"Where possibly higher cost may have had an impact on the ability to export in the past, people overseas are starting to look for products where the quality can be guaranteed," he said. "We're starting to see real interest in some Asian markets, including Japan, and in South Africa."

 

Increased numbers of Asian migrants had also underpinned a growing production of farmed ducks in New Zealand, and there might also be opportunities for exports to Asia.