The chairman of the board of the National Union of Poultry Farmers, Cesar Quesada Macías, said that the tariff-free quota of 300 thousand tons of chicken meat is hurting Mexican poultry farmers, but also is not benefiting consumers in terms of lower prices.

"The figures worry us, especially since we see a clear upward trend and thus a free displacement of the national product. US legs and thighs are imported, and now Brazilian chicken breasts," said Mr Quesada Macías.

The Union suggested that the quota is having a detrimental impact on domestic employment, production levels and tax revenue, and urged the Ministry of Economy to remove the quota.

Mr Quesada Macías added that when the quota was implemented, H7N3 highly pathogenic avian influenza was present in the industry, but he said the crisis has passed and the Mexican industry is now recovering.