China’s egg sector faces supervision gaps among small-scale producers

According to China Economic Net on 20 October, the head of the Beijing Egg Processing and Sales Trade Association set out food safety observations for the domestic egg industry during the 17th China Food Safety Forum on 16 October.

China has retained the world’s largest egg output for 41 consecutive years since 1985, with last year’s production accounting for 40 per cent of global supply. The country ranks as the top producer and consumer of eggs worldwide.

Around half of national production capacity comes from small holdings with fewer than 30,000 laying hens. Weak awareness of food safety among some small operators and recurring cases involving counterfeit veterinary drugs create difficulties in consistent quality control, forming a key weak point for food safety in the sector.

Internal controls at large egg producers operate to stricter standards. Firms found selling eggs with unsafe properties can face criminal charges for trading food that is toxic or harmful, and court rulings have already been handed down over antibiotic residues in eggs. Large operators do not cut corners for short-term gains, as sustainable profitability rests on delivering safe, high-quality eggs at efficient cost levels.