SEOUL, June 9 (Reuters) - South Korea's food ministry said on Friday it will allow imports of Thai eggs for the first time from next week to help ease a shortage caused by the country's worst-ever bird flu outbreak.
The two countries have finalised negotiations over terms of clearing egg imports including health certificates, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said in a statement.
In the aftermath of the country's birdflu epidemic which began in November last year, South Korea has been importing eggs from overseas to stablise rising local egg prices sparked by tightening egg supplies. fresh case of avian influenza occurred on a small farm last week. As of Friday a total of 11 bird flu cases had been confirmed, mostly on small farms. ministry expected the egg shipments from Thailand to help South Korea cope with a shortfall.
South Korea can import fresh eggs from seven countries, including Australia and Spain, however, egg imports from the United States are banned after a bird flu outbreak there.
The average retail price of 30 eggs was at 7,967 won ($7.11) as of Thursday, up 52.7 percent from a year ago, according to data from state-run Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Corp. But that was 16.5 percent lower from 9,543 won on January 12 when the price hit the highest. ($1 = 1,120.0000 won)