The Right and the Left want imports – E24

Rema 1000 is expecting egg trouble in the run-up to National Day.

– With the Center Party in government, a very large proportion of Norwegian consumers will still not have the opportunity to eat eggs, perhaps not even make scrambled eggs on May 17 itself, says Lene Westgaard-Halle, spokesperson for agricultural policy in the Conservative Party.

She and Alfred Bjørlo, spokesperson for agricultural policy in the Liberal Party, are now going out and asking Nortura to import eggs by 17 May.

– Nortura is the market regulator and controls the entire egg market. Now they must ensure that safe eggs are imported from our neighboring countries until 17 May.

Westgaard-Halle believes the market regulation of eggs “has failed”.

– We have lacked eggs in Norway for almost a year, and the government’s reaction is paralysis. It’s also no surprise when you let the goat look after the sack of oats, she says.

Only Norwegian eggs in store

Nortura has done its job, insists press contact Matilda Aronsson.

– We asked for import opening already in May last year. Since then, it has been free for anyone to import eggs into Norway. Together with all other measures, the market regulator has done what the market regulator can do.

Nortura itself imports some.

– We import to industry and to production at Revetal. production at Revetal.At Revetal, Nortura makes a range of processed egg products that are sold to the food industry, commercial kitchen and grocery markets. And so we now do the same as before Easter. We bring in eggs more often, let the hens lay for two weeks longer and prioritize deliveries to groceries. It is measures that make a difference.

– Is it appropriate to import to the grocery store, so that customers can be guaranteed eggs?

– When imports are opened, it is up to whoever wants to, including the grocery stores, to use this or not. Nortura has imported whole egg mass to the industry in order to release more of our Norwegian eggs for daily use. When it comes to shell eggs in the shop, Nortura only sells Norwegian eggs.

Matilda Aronsson

Getting too little

Nevertheless, there is no getting away from the fact that there is a lack of eggs. The forecasts show that it could last until this summer.

– We still get too few eggs, says Ingvill Størksen, authority contact at Coop.

In Rema 1000, too, they have challenges in supplying the shops with enough eggs, says Hege Rognlien, head of communications in Rema 1000.

She adds that access is at a fairly stable level.

– But in the run-up to Easter, there was a lot of demand and thus an extra lot of empty shelves. The same may apply now into May.

Coinciding downtime

In May this year, Norwegian farmers will produce approximately four percent fewer eggs than last year, according to Nortura.

– We need more Norwegian producers. Until it is in place, there will be a deficit, says Aronsson.

The undercoverage now also has to do with timing, she explains.

– There is always downtime between two sets of hens, as the hen house is empty. Then you wash, do upgrades and maintenance. The lower production is connected to the fact that there are many farmers who coincidentally have downtime.

Aronsson points out that Norwegian eggs have a long shelf life.

– We encourage people to buy only the eggs they need and not to hoard them. We then arrange for as many eggs as possible to reach consumers.

– Almost a little frightening

If Nortura believes that they have done their job, “then it emphasizes that market regulation has failed”, says Westgaard-Halle.

– It is their job to ensure that there are enough eggs in the market. It’s almost a little scary if they’re happy after a year of egg shortages.

– You think Nortura should import eggs themselves?

– Yes, and if they don’t think to do it, then the grocery store must make its own assessments.

– Are you confident that it is possible to move around and import eggs in a safe manner before 17 May?

– There is already a player who imports Danish eggs to the Norwegian market for large households and who has routines in place for testing. Of course, there must be strict requirements for food safety, we have heard a lot about salmonella in Europe.

In addition, it should be clear to the consumer where the eggs come from, says the Conservative politician.

– There must be clear labelling, so the customer can choose between no eggs and, for example, Danish eggs.