October 12, 2024, 1:14 PM
October 12, 2024, 1:14 PM
The growing smuggling of eggs from Bolivia to Peru puts the Peruvian authorities and producers in trouble, who have warned about impact on the economy of the sector and about health problems.
A report from the Argentine portal Infobae, from its correspondent in Peru, reported this Saturday – one day after World Egg Day was celebrated – that the kilo of the pink egg fell from 8 soles (S), which has been maintained in recent years, up to S/6.28, about $us 1.70 per kilo to the official change in the neighboring country.
Organizations such as the Association of Southern Egg Producers (Aprohsur) of Peru, warned yesterday that since June the smuggling situation has worsened of eggs from the neighboring country of Bolivia. “This is a massive illegal entry of thousands of these units that they are not easy to differentiate of those produced in Peru, and that would constitute unfair competition that affects Peruvian producers,” Infobae reported.
In addition to the economic impact, the situation can create a health problem, As the spokespersons for the egg producers pointed out: “what is at stake is the food security of the country. The last thing we need is to ‘import’ something that could cause problems of this type. Because that would make the price of eggs skyrocket.”
According to the report, the income from the Bolivian egg occurs mainly in the Puno area, to later be transferred to Juliaca, as a collection point. It is estimated that the volume of smuggling amounts to 7 thousand packages of eggs per day, which is equivalent to 8.8 million eggs per week, that enter in trucks on roads where there is no greater customs control.
In Bolivia, The Government has also recognized that the product of animal origin is one of the most smuggled “in reverse” to Peru. The Vice Minister of Tax Policy, Jhonny Morales, in contact with EL DEBER, indicated this Saturday that a recent seizure of a truck with maples of this product, that was going towards the Peruvian market.
A few days ago, the Executive Body launched the Supreme Decree 5245, which aims to prevent reverse smuggling of food, through the militarization of borders. The Vice Minister of Fight against Smuggling, Luis Amilcar Velásquez, stated that the Desaguadero border crossing It is one of the most critical points.
Peruvian producers have also stated that the bird population has fallen in recent years in breeding, it has gone from 24 million laying hens to 20 million. Everything has gotten worse since June, given the difficulties of the Bolivian economy.
Bolivia produces about 2.7 billion eggs a year, of which Santa Cruz contributes 60% of the offer, that is, about 1,500 million; It is followed by Cochabamba, with a production of 1,000 million (35%) and Tarija, with 137 million (5%), according to data from the Santa Cruz Poultry Farmers Association (ADA).
The price of maple (30 units) in Santa Cruz, can be found from Bs 20 to Bs 30 in the markets.
