Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the Department of Animal Production and Health to prepare a series of guidelines for the use of imported eggs in the bakery industry.
Accordingly, when using imported eggs for bakery products, gloves should be used and eggshells should be safely disposed of or destroyed.
The remaining eggshells should not be released into the environment.
These guidelines have been issued with the aim of preventing the entry of the bird flu virus which is spreading in several countries.
The government decided to import eggs to reduce the shortage of eggs in the Sri Lankan market.
But due to the spread of bird flu in several countries including India, the Department of Animal Production and Health did not give permission for it.
However, the Department of Animal Production and Health has given permission for the import of eggs temporarily considering the existing egg shortage and need.
Accordingly, the eggs will be used only for the bakery industry.