Mexico City, Mexico – The Economy Secretariat (SE) reported a sharper-than-expected decline in Mexico’s egg supply due to the effects of the bird flu virus in Jalisco. Other states with production problems include Durango, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.

A statement from the SE said the reduction in egg supply, coupled with an increase in egg demand caused by the back-to-school season, has put pressure on egg prices and pushed them up to 40 pesos per kilo.

The secretariat urged manufacturers linked to the egg production chain to continue working with the federal government to try and help stabilize prices. In the meantime, importation of eggs from other countries, such as the United States, is taking longer than anticipated "due to the customs checks the eggs must undergo before they are cleared for entry into Mexico."

High international grain prices, caused by the drought in the US, are complicating the problem of higher egg prices.

The SE stated that it was making various efforts, in combination with the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco), to reduce egg prices. The Profeco "has required producers to inform the agency of the situation they are facing, as market conditions today are different to what they were a week ago."

Also, additional legal actions have been taken to find out the number of chickens culled. The SE offered support to the National Sanitation and Food Quality Service (Senasica) and the Secretariat of Agriculture (Sagarpa) to carry out sanitation inspections.

The SE also stated that to support Mexican families, the Profeco and the SE are working on putting together food hampers as a measure to protect and prevent Mexican families from nutrient deficiency.

The SE conducted more than 8,000 price inspections, while 3,798 checks were made in shops, grocery stores, and egg and chicken distributors. From these, it is preparing to begin legal procedures against 1,200 businesses who had not been displaying prices in plain view or had not been correctly labeling prices.

In addition, it verified 1,449 weigh scales and confiscated 64 for not being properly calibrated.