MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico is suspending tariffs on egg imports to counter a shortage and sudden price increase that has followed an outbreak of the bird flu virus.

Economy Secretary Bruno Ferrari says farmers complain that the killing of 11 million birds to contain the flu outbreak has slowed their work in western Mexico, an important region in egg production.

Ferrari said Wednesday that the cost of a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of eggs has more than doubled since the outbreak in July and hopes prices will soon drop.

He says Mexico is also increasing inspections of farms and stores because authorities have not found a justification for what he calls an "excessive increase" in prices.

The United States is among the countries that began exporting eggs to Mexico this week.