Plastic baskets with disposable packaging may be used for loading poultry eggs; violations are subject to a maximum fine of 150,000 yuan
Regarding the policy requiring the use of single-use packaging materials for poultry egg transport, which has long drawn outside criticism for being a U-turn, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) of the Council of Agriculture held a press conference this afternoon. In addition to demonstrating existing single-use-only packaging materials such as "paper egg cartons, paper egg trays and PVC egg boxes", it also stated that for the plastic egg baskets that have been in circulation for decades, communication with operators has now been completed, and that in future a "liner" can be used to wrap the eggs first before they are placed in the basket, preventing poultry eggs from contamination while also reducing packaging material costs; in addition, BAPHIQ stressed that since the authorities have already made a compromise, if operators fail to comply after the end of the June persuasion period, they will be fined 30,000 to 150,000 yuan.
Policy changed again and again, BAPHIQ: traditional egg baskets with "liners" can be reused
Questioned over the policy being changed again and again, BAPHIQ Director-General Huang Jui-Chang pointed out that when the rule on using single-use packaging materials was first announced, it drew an outcry from environmental groups, who argued that single-use paper boxes would cause a waste of resources; operators also criticised their poor load-bearing capacity, and that paper boxes easily get soaked in rain, making work very inconvenient, while also greatly raising costs; under waves of criticism from all sides, BAPHIQ reviewed the policy, but absolutely did not make a U-turn, and only in April this year reached a consensus with operators that a "liner" could be added as a partition for the traditional plastic egg basket part, so that the egg basket could also be reused.
(Top) The traditionally used plastic egg baskets were originally to be abolished, but now the rule is that as long as a single-use liner is added, they are acceptable (Bottom)
In addition, on the primary task of single-use packaging materials in preventing the spread of avian influenza, BAPHIQ stressed that with the use of liners and the cleaning of egg boxes, the spread of the virus can be greatly reduced. In the future, BAPHIQ will not only coordinate with local governments across the country for comprehensive inspections, with dirty plastic baskets as the priority targets for fines; after the end of the persuasion period on the 26th, apart from giving first-time violators a 1 to 3 month improvement period, other illegal operators will also be fined directly between 30,000 and 150,000 yuan, in the hope of gradually raising the proportion of washed-and-graded eggs and ultimately achieving the policy goal of all eggs being washed and graded.