September 12, 2013

During the first half of 2013, Georgia's egg imports have reached over 13 million, an increase of almost 800% compared to the same period of last year at 1.5 million eggs.

This is according to a report of the US National Statistical Department.

The rise may be attributed to the fact that imported eggs are exempt from certain types of taxes and duties. Turkey, Moldova and Ukraine are the main exporters of eggs to Georgia.

Domestic egg production was seriously harmed due to the fact that the market has been flooded with foreign eggs, prompting Georgian egg producers to express their concern with the situation.

According to Zurab Uchumbegashvili, Chairperson of Association of Georgian Poultry Enterprises this happened because the new government cancelled strict sanitary controls on imported eggs adopted since 2007 as a preventive remedy against bird flu.

During the first half of the year, a large number of egg producers went bankrupt which lead to the fall in domestic egg production in Georgia, he added.

Representatives of the association fear that domestic production in Georgia will completely cease in case the government does not help the industry.