December 10, 2007

UAE struggles with major egg shortage

The UAE is hit with a major egg shortage after imports from Saudi Arabia and India were banned due to bird flu.

Egg imports from Saudi and India constitute 50 percent of the UAE market.

Indian officials said their country has been declared as bird-flu free and the UAE is yet to revoke the ban on Indian eggs and poultry.

A delegation from India, comprising officials of the Agriculture Ministry and NAFED pleaded the case with the UAE municipal authorities on lifting the ban.

Among Gulf countries, only Oman has lifted the ban on Indian eggs and poultry.

Hussain Hassanain, Technical Secretary of the Emirates Poultry Producers Association, attributes the present crisis to a shortage of local production of about 7.5 million per annum.