KUCHING, Feb 4: Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Sarawak has taken the necessary initial action to address the chicken egg supply issue, said Sarawak director Dato Stanley Tan.
According to Tan in a statement today, the government has taken intervention measures by implementing the maximum pricing scheme from Feb 5 to June 5.
“Two types of goods which the maximum price has been determined are chicken and chicken eggs (Grade A, B and C).
“Consumers are advised not to make a panic purchases or more than usual as required because the supply issues that occur are isolated and will return to normal and stable after the Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays based on feedback received from industry players,” he said.
Tan noted based on chicken egg production data from 10 companies which represent 80 per cent of chicken egg production in Sarawak, an estimated 1,540,000 chicken eggs a day were produced in early February 2022.
He said there has been a sharp increase in demand and purchase of chicken eggs before, during and after the recent CNY holidays which has contributed to the disruption to the current supply of chicken eggs.
“In addition, there are poultry and chicken eggs farms, as well as delivery logistics companies that do not operate during the CNY holiday, and some even have a holiday longer than two days.
“All this contributed to the delay in supplying eggs from farms to wholesalers and retailers in several places in Sarawak,” he explained.
Tan pointed out that among other items being monitor are sugar, cooking oil, flour, rice, white bread, powder mils, chicken, vegetable, egg and onion.
He said the ministry is confident that egg supply will return to stability and its presence will cover all localities in Sarawak when chicken egg farms and delivery logistics companies resume operations soon.
“KPDNHEP Sarawak has instructed all retailers to renew the available stock at their respective premises and to contact the wholesalers and manufacturers if their stock falls to the re-order limit,” he added. — DayakDaily
