Mexico Imports Eggs... Prices Rise 60 Percent in Two Weeks

Secretary of Economy Bruno Ferrari said that 132,000 tons of eggs have been imported with the objective of stabilizing prices, which have risen nearly 60 percent in the last two weeks.

Ferrari said that the eggs were imported from Canada and the United States. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the price is 14 pesos per kilogram, but consumer costs may vary depending on the retailer.

Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) director Bernardo Altamirano said that speculating on this basic food staple could bring fines up to 3.5 million pesos and jail time.

At a press conference on Thursday, Ferrari said that the Federal Competition Commission (CFC) will begin investigating the production and distribution chain of the egg industry for illicit practices.

The economy secretary said that Mexico will import eggs from countries that it doesn't have trade free trade agreements with, like China, Ukraine, and Turkey. He added that these imports will be tariff-free. Egg tariffs are currently at 45 percent.

Ferrari García de Alba said that despite the bird flu outbreak at some poultry farms in Jalisco, there should be no reason for increases in the price of eggs.

He said, "Everything makes one suspect that there are contradictory practices behind the price increases."

Leticia Paula Cruz - July 7, 2012 - TheNews.mx

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