سامح السيد رئيس شعبة الدواجن بالغرفة التجارية يوضح تأثير المطالبات بحظر تداول الطيور الحية بالأسواق

Quick Overview

Egypt's Giza Chamber of Commerce's Poultry Division advocates for activating Law No. 70 of 2009, which prohibits the trade of live poultry, aiming to transition sales to chilled and frozen outlets. This move seeks to enhance food safety, stabilize market prices by allowing for product storage, and boost the local poultry industry's efficiency and export capabilities, despite initial consumer preference for live birds.

Key Points: The Giza Chamber of Commerce's Poultry Division requested the Ministry of Agriculture activate Law No. 70 of 2009, banning live poultry trade. The law mandates converting live poultry shops into outlets selling chilled and frozen chicken to enhance food safety and hygiene. Egypt's poultry industry has approximately 200 billion EGP in investments and produces around 4 million chickens daily, with a 15% surplus. The transition to chilled/frozen sales aims to eliminate multiple intermediary trading layers, which currently inflate consumer prices. Chilled and frozen poultry is considered safer due to bacterial count reduction through proper processing in automated slaughterhouses. The government's efforts have already led to a significant decrease in chick prices from 50 EGP to 10-12 EGP, and feed prices have stabilized. The ban will enable better storage of poultry products, stabilizing market prices and opening opportunities for export, benefiting the national economy.

Context: Egypt's poultry industry, a significant contributor to the national economy with substantial investments, has faced challenges including fluctuating feed prices and disease outbreaks. In response, the government, under presidential directives, initiated efforts to modernize the sector and ensure food security. A key part of this strategy involves activating Law No. 70 of 2009, which aims to regulate the poultry market and improve public health standards.

Detailed Analysis

The Giza Chamber of Commerce's Poultry Division officially requested the Ministry of Agriculture to activate Law No. 70 of 2009, which bans the trade of live poultry and mandates the conversion of live poultry shops into outlets selling chilled and frozen chicken. This initiative aligns with efforts to modernize Egypt's poultry industry, which boasts investments of approximately 200 billion EGP and produces around 4 million chickens daily, with a 15% surplus. The ban aims to eliminate multiple intermediary trading layers, which currently inflate prices for consumers, and to ensure public health by preventing the spread of diseases like bird flu. Live poultry trade poses significant health risks due to unhygienic slaughtering practices and bacterial contamination that can only be eliminated through proper chilling and freezing processes in automated slaughterhouses. The government, under presidential directives, formed a high committee to develop the poultry sector, focusing on streamlining the supply chain, reducing production costs (e.g., feed and veterinary medicine prices have decreased), and facilitating storage to stabilize market prices. This transition is expected to open new investment opportunities in cold storage and distribution, ultimately benefiting both producers and consumers by offering safer, more affordable poultry products and enabling future exports.