Permit needed to import eggs – GLDA warns

…defaulters can face criminal charges

Before the importation of eggs to the Guyana market, distributors must obtain an import permit in keeping with mandated requirements by the Guyana Livestock and Development Authority (GLDA).
The authority issued a public notice to all traders, indicating that it is a criminal offence to bring eggs into the country without proper documentation. If persons are culpable of the offence, they will be presented before the court to face charges.
“Importation of eggs without the requisite documentation is a criminal offence and will result in the seizure and destruction of the eggs and the consignee (importer) will be charged and placed before the court.”
The Agriculture Ministry had announced less than two weeks ago that the GLDA’s hatchery was closed due to the unusual death of ducklings.
“There is an increased mortality rate of ducklings being hatched at our facility, additionally, we were also informed by some farmers that a similar occurrence was taking place on a number of farms throughout the various regions,” the statement said.
It was later mentioned that the Muscovy breed was under threat, especially those between two to three weeks of age. This initiated a surveillance and monitoring exercise with the livestock. At that time, the deaths were labelled as an “unusual occurrence”.
“The ducklings most affected are from the farms that toll hatch at the GLDA hatchery, therefore, as a result of this unusual occurrence, the GLDA is currently conducting an active surveillance exercise through all five coastal regions and are monitoring the breeding flocks of the affected farmers,” the Ministry of Agriculture explained.
The Ministry was also seeking to engage an overseas laboratory unit to provide additional data.
“We are actively working with an overseas reference laboratory to have this unusual event addressed within the shortest period of time…We are working assiduously to have the situation rectified at the earliest opportune time.”