LABUAN: Even though one million chicken eggs are supplied monthly to this duty-free island from Sabah poultry farms, it is still insufficient to cater to the current demand from consumers and eateries.
Grocery stores, supermarkets and hypermarket across this island have been facing a shortage of the essential item since September last year following Sabah suppliers having their quota for Labuan changed from weekly to monthly.
This followed a directive dated Aug 20, 2021 from the Sabah Department of Veterinary Services to poultry farms in the State to reduce the export volume from 500,000 eggs weekly to 500,000 monthly to Labuan, which was then increased to one million monthly starting November 21 last year.
Labuan Department of Veterinary
Services (DVS) Director Dr Marysia James Abie said due to the shortage in supply, the department has permitted local importers to bring in eggs from poultry farms in Melaka and Johor to the island with volume standing at 1, 325, 240 eggs since October last year till Wednesday.
She said ahead of the Ramadan month and Hari Raya celebration, a food supply committee has been set up involving DVS Labuan, local wholesalers, suppliers and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP).
“Our department will get a list of poultry farms in the peninsula to assist in the issuance of import and export permits for eggs, and this is one way to mitigate the shortage of egg supply in this island ahead of the fasting month and the Hari Raya celebration,” she said.
Marysia said eggs of grade B and C were flying off the shelves within a few hours after stocks arrived but premium grades of the Omega and Selenium types could last a few day on shelves.
She said a second application to the Sabah DVS was submitted on Feb 4 to increase the export volume from one million to two million eggs monthly, but it was not approved.
Bernama had been previously reported on the quota change on egg export to Labuan from Sabah from weekly to monthly, which was mainly contributed by a drop in chicken egg production in the State and a host of other issues, including poultry-related diseases.
