Egg production in the European Union has decreased significantly, especially free-range eggs, and in addition to the generally lower production and the consequences of the energy crisis that arose as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the impetus for this was the bird flu.

Almost 50 million poultry have died this year in Europe due to the threat of bird flu and the killing of wild and domestic birds.

The high level of disease in wild birds is leading to an increase in the number of cases on commercial farms, and there is no solution in sight to bring the problem under control.

"It is difficult to predict how the situation will develop further, but the shortage of eggs will certainly last at least until Easter, if not longer," says Dražen Čurila, one of the largest Croatian egg exporters. There are several factors influencing the overall increase in egg prices, which is why it is difficult to say which one is the main one, but bird flu is certainly not helping to stabilize prices.

"I believe that the chicken farms will not remain empty, but it will take time for this to be resolved," says Zvjezdana Blažić, a food industry and agriculture consultant. Egg producers and poultry farmers said even before Easter this year that due to the record production costs, the purchase prices of eggs and the current crisis, they can put the key in the lock, writes Tportal, reports Poslovni hr.