Avian influenza, which is caused by a virus from the Orthomyxorividae family, specifically, H5N1 serotype Being highly contagious (although humans are difficult to infect), it has become a real headache for the poultry sector. According to the latest update from the Ministry of Agriculture 14 outbreaks in poultry And others 68 in wild birds. From Asaga they estimate that there were 2.5 million birds, sacrificed only in Castile and León. This has prompted the Ministry of Agriculture to activate the restrictions stipulated in Order APA/2442/2006, effective Monday. Among them is the prohibition of raising poultry outdoors. In this context of uncertainty, the consumer’s pocket suffers: the National Institute of Statistics (INE) estimates that the price of registered eggs An increase of 17.9% in September Compared to the previous 12 months, and since January, it has accumulated an increase of 15.9%. For its part, in OCU, they also detected a 7.5% increase since May in chicken meat, which rose from 3.25 to 3.5 euros/kg on average in the supermarket.
The National Institute of Statistics estimates that egg prices rose by 17.9% in September compared to the previous 12 months, and since January, they have increased by 15.9%. For its part, the OCU monitored a 7.5% increase in chicken meat since May
The “strange case” of chicken meat
For Enrique Garcia, spokesman for this consumer organization, “the emergence of a product like chicken, with… Strong demand and stable supply, very strange. In this regard, he adds that the OCU also warned that the price of eggs has risen by 50% in 6 months, and believes that the “moments of uncertainty” that the sector is experiencing “It can spread like an oil slick.”To products related to eggs and chicken meat, which contain their ingredients, as happens with pastries.
Sources from the Spanish Professional Meat and Poultry Association, (Avianza) Highlights that poultry meat production takes place in “Closed farms with biosecurity measures already in effect” By more than 90%. Specifically, from this professional association, it is estimated that 750 million chickens are produced annually in Spain to produce fresh and processed poultry meat products. This is 1.7 million tons. Avianza’s Secretary General, Jordi Montfort, defended this in a statement “The sector is prepared to respond to this threat“Although there is no zero risk, the number of farms and birds affected by slaughter in poultry meat fields (mainly broilers) is reduced,” he adds. A message of peace He argues that biosafety requirements in meat poultry farming have continuously intensified in recent years.
“There are no elements that explain this increase,” notes José Ramón Gonzalez (UPA). From Asaga Huesca, Ramon Solanilla, asks livestock owners to “strictly take biosecurity measures.”
Back to price formation
Garcia (OCU) leaves two messages to the Ministry of Agriculture: the first to continue taking the necessary measures to prevent the spread of bird flu, and the second, that “the Food Information and Control Agency (AICA)) Monitor price formation of eggs, chicken meat and derived products.” A petition supported by agricultural organizations such as the UPA, whose Livestock Minister, José Ramón González, asserts that “There are no factors that explain the rise.”. He adds that this rise in prices does not affect the product and that there is a risk of declining consumption.
For his part, Secretary General of Lasaga Huesca Ramon Solanilla said, The increase in prices at origin is calculated at 15%. (What producers receive) in the last 6 weeks, while on shelves (what consumers pay for) 32 were shot%. Solanilla notes that poultry coming from other European countries, some of which are great partners for the Spanish economy, are also affected by this virus. Such cases Germany and Poland, Which is witnessing a decline in poultry flocks and an increase in demand for eggs from southern European countries. For the person in charge of Asaja Huesca, the biggest danger lies in loose laying hens and he does not hesitate to call on farmers “Strict biosafety measures” Although he believes that it is “difficult” for influenza to enter intensive farms. He stresses that “the moment the virus enters, deaths are rapid and a sanitary evacuation must be carried out, that is, the animals on the farm must be sacrificed.”
“In February, there was a sharp rise in prices originally, which was quickly transmitted to the supermarket, and then in October, there was little impact when it came to lowering them,” criticizes Enrique García (OCU).
“Feather Rocket Effect” and eggs
An OCU spokesman speaks of a “rocket effect of the boom” in egg prices and explains that “in February there was a sharp rise in prices at origin which were quickly transferred to the supermarket and thenOr, in October, there was a feather effect when it came to lowering it. For this reason, the Consumers Association proposes to abolish the value-added tax on eggs, chicken meat and fish. “These products have a greater impact on household economies, because The increase in prices will reduce consumption “An essential protein for any balanced diet,” he concludes wistfully. In his opinion, “It is difficult to replace eggs,” denouncing that food has become more expensive by up to 31% in recent years, while salaries have not increased by the same percentage.
Do climbing eggs have a “roof”?
Enrique Garcia (OCU) believes that the rise in egg prices will not stop. “Not in the short term, as long as there is uncertainty He points out that conditions exist that make it possible for bird flu to occur. In this regard, he speaks of a certain seasonality in meteorological periods where they are most abundant. Garcia believes that if there is a “reasonable competition mechanism,” the expectation is that increased production costs will lead to higher prices, even if they have fallen now. Prices should go down and they haven’t. Solanilla points out with great caution that “the data conveyed to us by the environmental departments says that the peak of the impact has already passed: 15 days ago several wild birds were affected and now about twenty.” It in itself links the emergence of this outbreak to the disease Arrival of migratory birds Temperatures are increasingly falling, ensuring the survival of the virus.
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