Appeals Tribunal Rules on Egg Dispute

An appeals tribunal established under the Natural Products Marketing Act has ruled that a board order made by the Egg Producers of Prince Edward Island be quashed. The tribunal ruled on an appeal by a poultry operation against a decision of the Egg Producers Board. The order allowed the Egg Producers Board to purchase and sell eggs from one grading station to another at predetermined prices.

Eggs surplus to the local market are sold for a wide range of fresh and frozen egg products to breaking plants on the industrial market. As a supply managed commodity, provinces are allocated a production quota based on domestic needs.

The appeal by the poultry operation said that grading stations should not be subject to board orders with respect to the sale or purchase of eggs. The tribunal agreed with the appellant.

The tribunal does not comment publicly on the reasons for its decisions. Copies of the decision are available from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture and are also available on its website at gov.pe.ca/af/agweb/.