Egg exports to Gulf hit on N-E bird flu outbreak.

Chennai: The bird flu scare in the north-east has affected the table egg exports from Namakkal to a few Gulf nations once again. 

‘Bird-flu-free’ 

During the past month, egg export industry recovered as countries such as Muscat lifted ban on imports from India after the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) declared India a bird flu-free country, according to a top official in National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC). “As soon as the news of birdflu outbreak in India spread, Muscat rejected a consignment of eggs from Namakkal on Sunday,” the official said. 

Namakkal exports around 15-20 lakh eggs to Muscat daily. Egg exporters in South India, mainly Namakkal — the poultry hub — who contribute nearly 90 per cent of exports, fear that their business may be hit. During every outbreak of bird flu in other States, the poultry export industry in Tamil Nadu incurs a loss of over Rs 500 crore. 

“We are paying a heavy price every time avian flu outbreak is reported in far off States such as Maharashtra or Manipur. It is high time the Central and State Governments resorted to zoning and saved our businesses,” the NECC official said