Moldova updates egg labelling to target new sales markets

Moldova in the next few years is preparing to actively increase exports of eggs, so it is now on the way to bring the domestic legislation into compliance with the requirements of major importing countries of the CIS.

Since January 1, egg producers are required to label each egg. The special mark on the egg must specify the country of origin, locality, company code and date of manufacture. In addition, it is necessary to refine its category. The number 1 means that the bird is grown on the ground, 2 – grown free, 3 – in the cage.

Ion Byzgu, director of Avicola Moldova, one of the largest producers of poultry meat and eggs in the country, said that nowadays 100% of the egg production enterprises have the necessary equipment. According to him, the price of eggs due to the introduction of the new requirements will not rise.

According to preliminary data up to 2011 Moldova has produced about 750 million eggs, which is 19% higher than in 2009, but only 4% higher than the level of 2010. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country’s lack of sales markets is the key factor that restrains the development of egg production in the country. The main importers of eggs from Moldova today are Ukraine, Georgia, Syria and Iraq, which totally have a share of 83% out of all deliveries.

As a result of 2011 Moldova increased export of eggs to 20 million tonnes, or 25% compared to the level of the previous year. The introduction of new rules of labeling eggs, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, will help Moldova to open new sales markets, in particular the United Arab Emirates, Armenia, Belarus and Russia.