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The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development is looking far and wide for table eggs it can import to ease the country’s egg shortage, it confirmed on Thursday.
According to spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo, the government is looking to buy eggs "anywhere in the world where there are eggs" as part of a short-term solution to the country’s already reported shortage of eggs on retail shelves.
South Africa already has an import relationship with countries such as Brazil, the US, and Argentina. These markets supply a significant portion of bone-in chicken imports to the local market.
Media reports this week revealed that the department is looking for ways to fast-track import permits for the industry, creating an avenue to assist an industry battered by different strains of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus.
"We are currently importing chicken meat from Europe and Brazil. So importing is happening," Ngcobo said.
"As soon as importers apply for permits, permits will be issued in [a] short space of time and without compromising any legislation. They will import".
The local poultry industry is battling the toughest bird flu outbreak since the virus first hit the country’s shores in 2017. In a previous interview with Moneyweb, Izaak Breitenbach of the South African Poultry Association placed this year’s slaughtered bird figure at over seven million, with the virus dealing a more vicious attack in the country’s densely populated inland region.
The department did not clarify just how large the import volumes of eggs would have to be to plug the supply gap in the market. Instead, Ngcobo told Moneyweb that the volumes will be dictated by demand in the market.
"It’s not government that determines the volume, rather the industry being informed by the shortage in their stock," he said.
However, in September, Breitenbach told Moneyweb the sector is looking to import some 11 million fertilised eggs to help reduce the impact of the shortfall on consumers.
Despite consumers already reporting empty egg racks at some of the country’s major retailers, some restaurants remain confident their stock will be enough to ride the wave.
JSE-listed restaurant group, Spur told Moneyweb that although there is some concern around the outbreak, its chain of restaurants is yet to feel the trickle-down impact of the crisis.
The group – which owns the popular Spur Steak Ranch family restaurant chain and special dining spots The Hussar Grill and Casa Bella – also told Moneyweb the group doesn’t expect to see dramatic price changes in poultry-containing menu items as a result of the crisis.
