'Non-EU poultry meat is now very inconvenient'

The poultry sector is being hit hard by the corona pandemic. Sales from slaughterhouses have fallen sharply and the cold stores are packed. Gert-Jan Oplaat, chairman of the trade association Nepluvi, talks about the situation. "Our commitment is to minimize the import of cheap fillets outside the EU."

How big are the problems?
"Very large. The market has been completely disrupted. The problems are not only occurring in the Netherlands, but throughout Europe. Slaughterhouses have contracts with both producers and buyers, but everything is now failing. Because the demand for meat has collapsed, there is barely sales."

Where does the shoe pinch in particular? 
"Now that many food services and catering establishments are closed, much less poultry meat is supplied to chains such as McDonalds or the KFC. But sales to restaurants have also come to a standstill. In addition, a lot of cheap fillet is imported from outside the EU The cold stores are now almost full, but the supply will continue to come for a while. What was put into production a few weeks ago, is now being delivered. If production were to be reduced now, you would only notice later a drop in supply."

What do you think are good suggestions for minimizing the problem as much as possible?
"First of all, we can look at reducing the poultry numbers in Europe. However, these are agreements between producers, slaughterhouses and buyers, so that should be mutually agreed. Minimizing poultry meat imported from countries outside the EU is also important. importance if we still want to sell domestic meat."

To what extent can that import quantity be limited?
"This suggestion has been submitted to the European Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. This will probably take a long time, but hopefully this will work."

Can poultry farmers handle a period of low prices?
"I have no knowledge of that and unfortunately I can't say anything about it. We as Nepluvi do not interfere in prices and price agreements between poultry farmers and slaughterhouses."

Chanti Oussoren

Editor at Boerenbusiness who studies the dairy, pig (meat) and feed markets.

c.oussoren@boerenbusiness. Nl

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