Eggs purchased directly from a producer. The egg shortage in the United States has led to contact with Finland. LEHTIKUVA
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Finland has turned down a request from the United States to export eggs, citing regulatory barriers and limited supply. The request came as the US struggles with an egg shortage caused by bird flu outbreaks that have led to the culling of over 35 million birds this year.
The Finnish Poultry Association confirmed it was contacted about potential exports but stated that Finland does not have market access agreements with US authorities.
Such an arrangement would require extensive negotiations and inspections, making exports unlikely in the near future.
“Launching exports is not a simple matter since there are no agreed rules in place,” said Veera Lehtilä, executive director of the Finnish Poultry Association.
Even if exports were possible, Finland’s contribution would be minimal compared to the scale of the US shortage. The country has around four million laying hens, a fraction of what would be needed to meet American demand.
“The amount we could export would not solve their egg shortage,” Lehtilä added.
The US Department of Agriculture has also reached out to other European countries, including Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands, but they face similar regulatory hurdles. Sweden’s Kronägg, one of the country’s largest egg producers, stated it was unlikely to export due to export restrictions.
Meanwhile, Türkiye has approved a plan to export 15,000 tons of eggs to the US by June. Other countries with existing agreements, such as the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Canada, are also positioned to supply the American market.
Bird flu remains a global issue, with outbreaks affecting poultry farms across Europe as well. The Finnish Poultry Association stressed the importance of ongoing preventive measures to avoid similar disruptions.
“Although Finland has managed to contain the disease so far, continuous effort is needed to prevent outbreaks,” Lehtilä said.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
