Representatives of the southern and northern egg producer associations warned about the massive entry of smuggled Bolivian eggs into the country. The situation has worsened four months ago due to the weakening of the Bolivian currency.
The businessmen estimated that the volume of smuggling amounts to 7 thousand packages of eggs daily; that is, 8.8 million eggs per week They enter in trucks along highways, mainly along the border with Puno.
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The smuggling route continues through the city of Juliaca, where there would be collection points, and then distributed to Arequipa, Tacna, Moquegua and Cusco. But it was even warned that the product reaches the center and north of the country.
The economic impact to the poultry industry is estimated to be 3.3 million soles, per week. This affects families and the distribution chain of 650 small and large farms in the country.
Lester Cervantes, president of the Southern Egg Producers Association (APROHSUR), He explained that the uncontrolled entry of eggs from Bolivia dates back more than 2 years, but the Government has not had effective measures to counteract the situation.
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He noted that, for example, the 90% of the eggs consumed in Puno come from Boliviawhich has caused the national product to be removed from the market. If there is no concrete action, this situation can be replicated in several regions of the country, he said.
The eggs that enter from the neighboring country are cheaper to market because Bolivia is one of the largest producers of soybeans and corn, and they also have economic incentives from the Government. Being unfair competition to the national product.
José Luis Neira, president of the Association of Northern Egg Producers (APROHNOR), He warned that not only the problem focuses on the economy of the businessmen, but also the health of the entire population. “If they will import diseases, bird flu; Tomorrow we are going to have a massive death of birds and a food problem in the country. The last thing we need is to import problems like that”, he expressed.
Responsible for controlling smuggling
The businessmen took responsibility to the National Agrarian Health Service of Peru, the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration and the Police of not carrying out the respective border control.
They acknowledged that they have met with the authorities of these institutions to expose the problem, but there is no action. The alternative solution is to increase monetary penalties for the entry of products of this type without the respective permits, something that would discourage their commercialization.
“PWe urge the authorities to take this seriously. Things will become more serious and cannot be controlled. “We are going to have serious problems,” manifested Elmer Quispe, vice president of APROHSUR.
