The ‘eggs of controversy’ returned to traders, spoiled ones worth 300,000MT

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The ‘eggs of controversy’ returned to traders, spoiled ones worth 300,000MT

9:43 CAT | 22 Dec 2022

File photo: Ikweli

More than 12,000 ‘favos’ (trays) of eggs seized by the National Inspection of Economic Activities (INAE) in Nampula have been returned to traders. The decision was taken by the Secretary of State, on the basis of serious flaws apparent in the INAE’s behaviour.

Two weeks ago, the INAE in Nampula seized more than 12,000 trays of eggs originating from Malawi, following a complaint made by the company ‘Novos Horizontes’, a Nampula producer of chickens and eggs.

The INAE first alleged price speculation, but dropped that explanation because the eggs were, on the contrary, being sold for less than those produced domestically. Later, the INAE alleged that the eggs entered the country without payment of customs duties.

Faced with these conflicting versions, the Secretary of State for Nampula, Mety Gondola, last week met the INAE, Customs, the Directorate of Commerce and the traders themselves, and determined that there were serious flaws in the INAE operation.

READ: Mozambique: INAE goes hunting for smuggled eggs in the streets of Nampula – Ikweli

He therefore decided to “instruct INAE to return the seized eggs. A second decision was to forward the dossier to the Tax Authority so that it can be examined in depth and the interveners held accountable, in case the existence of legal responsibilities is found, above all, related to tax evasion”.

The decision taken by the Secretary of State, as part of the public administration, had to be backed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which was already arbitrating the dispute. “Naturally, this always involves giving the information to the Attorney General’s Office – the body with which we have been working – clarifying that we who had raised the concern understand that this is a subject that, in principle, is now void from the perspective initially placed,” Gondola clarified.

After the seizure was made, the cost of a ‘favo’ of 24 eggs rose from around 190 to about 350 meticais, in addition to there being a scarcity of eggs on the market.

READ: Mozambique: Nampula in danger of running out of eggs – AIM report

Mozambique: Nampula government authorises egg imports from Malawi

With their return on Tuesday, the price returned to normal, as confirmed by Aboobacar Deme, president of the Malawi Egg Importers Association: “The withdrawal price, a box of eggs is sold at 2,900 meticais and the ‘favo’ at 240 for wholesalers and, for retailers, at between 260 to 270 meticais.”

Deme said last week that 10,000 boxes of eggs had entered Nampula to meet demand, which, added to the quantity being returned, would return stability to the market, given that there is greater demand for eggs during the festive season, to make sweets and other typical dishes.

However, resellers estimate that eggs valued at around 300,000 meticais were damaged during the two weeks they were impounded, and it remains to be seen who will be responsible for this damage, in the face of an action by an institution of the public administration that may prove to have been illegal.

By Ricardo Machava

Source: O País