The American Bakers Association (ABA) applauds the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision today to reinstate The Netherlands to as an exporter of pasteurized egg products to the United States.
“We are very happy with the response from the USDA to expedite the approval of egg products from the Netherlands,” said Robb MacKie, ABA President & CEO. “This swift response is a direct result of ABA members taking action to ensure that USDA and Congress react appropriately to this crisis,” Added MacKie.
With diminishing egg supplies due to the avian influenza outbreak, the U.S. egg market is struggling to fulfill demand needs for bakers and other food producers. ABA and its membership quickly weighed in with close to 1,000 e-mails and phone calls to USDA and Members of Congress asking for additional import opportunities.
“We are now at about 35% of the egg product supply being taken offline due to the avian influenza. Opening imports from the Netherlands is a big step in the right direction, but more is needed,” said Cory Martin, ABA Director, Government Relations. “We are facing a true crisis, and without additional actions to increase supply, bakers and many other food manufacturers face dire situations in the coming weeks and months,” added Martin.
###
About the American Bakers Association:
The American Bakers Association (ABA) is the Washington D.C.-based voice of the wholesale baking industry. Since 1897, ABA has represented the interests of bakers before the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and international regulatory authorities. ABA advocates on behalf of more than 700 baking facilities and baking company suppliers. ABA members produce bread, rolls, crackers, bagels, sweet goods, tortillas and many other wholesome, nutritious, baked products for America’s families. The baking industry generates more than $102 billion in economic activity annually and employs more than 706,000 highly skilled people.
Source: American Bakers Association