Public statements that egg prices in shops could rise because of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak at one poultry farm could be interpreted as a reason to rewrite price tags. This was stated in a notice on the website of Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).
The agency issued a warning in response to remarks by Alexander Shirov, head of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Economic Forecasting. Commenting on the incident at Volzhanin Poultry Farm, the researcher said the epidemiological problem could affect the market, although the state has tools to limit price growth.
He stressed that the producer supplies 20% of total consumption in the Central Federal District, meaning the impact appears significant, though not critical.
“Many producers will be happy to replace this farm on the market and take their share of the profit. So I think there will be no serious problems. Although last year there were moments when Russia had to import chicken eggs from other countries,” Shirov concluded.
At the same time, FAS reminded egg producers that unjustified price increases are unacceptable and warned that antimonopoly rules must be observed.
Last week, during a televised call-in, Russian President Vladimir Putin said chicken-egg prices had fallen this year after strong increases in previous years.