Ban Poultry Imports, NECC Tells Government

INDIA - The National Egg Co-ordination Committee (NECC), Namakkal zone, has urged the Central Government to prevent the move to import subsidised poultry meat from Brazil.

21 August 2008

2 minute read

Asia

The NECC said there were reports that a deal had been made to import 300,000 tonnes of unprocessed poultry from Brazil to India. In a statement, the committee said that if the import took place, it would deny the domestic poultry farmers a level playing field.

According to The Hindu, they added that it will have adverse impact on the Indian poultry industry, which is already facing a crisis following the spiralling prices of feed including maize and soya meal. If the import of subsidized chicken is allowed, it will further lower the farm-gate price of broilers, leading to enormous losses to the farmers.

Brazil extends various direct and indirect subsidies on export of poultry products. If India imported the subsidised poultry meat, it would lead to unfair competition. The 400 billion-rupee (INR) domestic poultry industry provides direct and indirect employment to 3.2 million persons in the country.

It has the potential to increase the export of poultry products from the present INR4 billion per annum to at least INR20-25 billion. It is possible when the various trade-distorting subsidies by developed countries are withdrawn, the NECC statement concluded.