Contaminated eggs: Minister Jeholet wants to talk to Sowalfin and Febelfin

Contaminated eggs: Minister Jeholet wants to talk to Sowalfin and Febelfin

The Walloon Economy Minister Pierre-Yves Jeholet will call a meeting with Sowalfin and the Belgian Finance Sector Federation (Febelfin) in the next few days. They will look into the possible financial solutions they can offer farmers affected by the Fipronil affair.

Mr Jeholet wants to try and anticipate the financial problems the Walloon food industry could face because of its egg production process.

Sowalfin, the Walloon company tasked with facilitating businesses’ access to finance, banks and Febelfin will meet soon “to look into how to grant farmers new credit lines to ensure a smooth transition following this crisis”, Mr Jeholet’s cabinet said in a press release on Sunday.

Sowalfin will be in charge of “coming up with the appropriate financial package”. Wallonia plans to contribute to this package by according a guarantee for bank credit, as well as direct loans to businesses affected by the contaminated eggs crisis”.

Around fifty chicken farmers, including three in Wallonia, have seen their trade grind to a halt for the last two or three weeks following the Fipronil affair.  The insecticide is considered moderately toxic to humans by the World Health Organisation and banned in chicken farms by the EU. Large quantities of eggs were contaminated with it in several countries.  


The Brussels Times


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