KUALA LUMPUR: The government will import between two and 10 million chicken eggs daily from India starting Thursday until the egg supply in the country stabilises.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this measure is being taken to meet local demand.
"We have approved the import of 100,000 eggs on Dec 15, and on Dec 22 (Thursday), two to 10 million eggs will be brought in until the situation stabilises," when presenting the Consolidated Fund (Expenditure on Account) bill in Dewan Rakyat, today.
It was previously reported that consumers and traders were having difficulty getting chicken eggs from supermarkets and stores in five states, namely Perak, Penang, Kelantan, Selangor and Melaka.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu had said on Dec 6 that the government had agreed to import chicken eggs as a short-term measure to meet domestic needs.
The eggs would be brought in from India on a trial basis, and would be tested for Salmonella bacteria, the Newcastle disease virus and avian influenza.