The influx of Ukrainian poultry and eggs into the European Union has sparked controversy and concerns among domestic farmers. The Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture and the Poultry Product Council have called for a halt to imports, citing threats to EU production, self-sufficiency, and food safety. Ukrainian farmers are not subject to EU standards, and the unlimited quantities of products arriving in the EU pose a significant risk to the industry.
The EU quota in place before liberalization limited imports to 90,000 tons per year, but since liberalization began, the EU has imported over 218,000 tons of poultry meat from Ukraine. Egg import figures are even more staggering, with the EU importing almost 100 million Ukrainian table eggs in March 2023, almost as many as in the whole of 2021. Domestic farmers are concerned about fair competition and the impact on their livelihoods.
Citations:
[1] https://apnews.com/article/egg-producers-price-gouging-lawsuit-conspiracy-8cd455003a3a40bab74d0f046d0f2c9d
[2] https://fortune.com/2023/12/01/eggs-price-gouging-producers-antitrust-jury-award-lawsuit/
[3] https://www.reuters.com/world/bird-flu-ukraine-war-push-egg-prices-higher-worldwide-2022-04-14/
[4] https://hungarytoday.hu/european-production-threatened-by-the-influx-of-ukrainian-poultry-and-eggs/
[5] https://www.asiapacific.ca/publication/taiwans-egg-import-controversy-reveals-cracks-government
[6] https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240131-eu-to-shield-farmers-threatened-by-ukraine-farm-imports
[7] https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/sfa-recall-eggs-ukraine-farm-salmonella-enteritidis-3685786
[8] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/farmers-europe-step-up-protests-against-rising-costs-green-rules-2024-01-31/
[9] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/protesting-farmers-jam-brussels-with-tractors-ministers-meet-2024-02-26/