The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is advising that there is no ongoing importation of eggs under the temporary arrangement, as the waiver of duty on egg imports officially ended on February 28, 2026.

In a release on Tuesday, the ministry stated that no new import permits have been issued since December 2025, reflecting its deliberate approach to managing supply based on direct assurances from industry stakeholders that local egg production had sufficiently rebounded following weather disruptions including Hurricane Melissa last October.

“It is important to note that the temporary decision to facilitate egg imports through a duty waiver was made at the request of the Jamaica Egg Farmers’ Association, as the sector sought to stabilise supply during a period of significant disruption,” the release stated.

According to the ministry, more than 60 per cent of the eggs imported under that arrangement were brought in by local egg producers themselves, “underscoring that the measure was both industry-driven and industry-utilised, highlighting the role of the industry in addressing short-term supply gaps,” the ministry added.

The ministry said it continues to take a balanced approach that safeguards both consumer access and affordability and the long-term viability of local production.

It said temporary import measures are not intended to undermine domestic agriculture, but rather to support market stability in times of genuine need.

“With the sector now demonstrating recovery, the focus is firmly on strengthening domestic production, improving resilience and continuing targeted support to farmers,” the release stated.

The ministry added that it encourages continued collaboration across the sector to ensure that Jamaica’s egg industry remains strong and capable of meeting national demand.