Government inspects fresh egg imports and cold-chain logistics, holds industry meeting; plans to bring in 200 million additional eggs in July–August

US-origin fresh eggs on display at a hypermarket in Seoul. [Yonhap]
US-origin fresh eggs on display at a hypermarket in Seoul. [Yonhap]

The government is moving to expand fresh egg imports and tighten distribution management to stabilize egg supply and prices, which have been rattled by the fallout from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The Ministry of Economy and Finance said First Vice Minister Lee Hyeong-il visited Hansol Food One, an imported egg packaging and distribution company, on Tuesday to assess the egg supply situation.

The visit was a follow-up to a livelihood price stabilization and cost-relief package announced June 26. As part of that plan, the government committed 1 trillion won in fiscal spending to fund discounts on agricultural, livestock and fishery products, ease essential living costs, and support small businesses hurt by high fuel prices.

To stabilize egg prices in particular, the government plans to hold its largest-ever discount campaign on agricultural, livestock and fishery products in July and August, while also pursuing delivery price subsidies, direct government imports and expanded tariff-rate quotas.

With egg prices continuing to climb amid recent culling of laying hens, the government said it would combine an existing 20 percent discount program covering all egg products with a more than sixfold increase in fresh egg import volumes — bringing in 200 million additional eggs in July and August. The supply will also be extended to small businesses such as bakeries.

Lee inspected storage facilities and cold-chain refrigerated distribution systems for imported fresh eggs alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. (aT), E-mart and Lotte Mart. He then held a meeting with industry representatives to discuss securing a stable supply of imported eggs and diversifying supply chains.

At the meeting, Hansol Food One said swift customs clearance and quarantine processing for overseas fresh eggs were critical to supply stability, and urged the government to streamline related administrative procedures. aT and major retail chains also agreed on the need to secure stable import volumes and diversify sourcing.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs expects the egg supply situation to stabilize from late July as more businesses become eligible to use fresh eggs.

"Eggs are an essential item with a significant impact on people's daily diets and the food service and food processing industries," Lee said. "We will do our utmost to proactively manage supply disruption risks so that prices can stabilize as quickly as possible."


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