The Mexican government has delayed the introduction of a ban on imports of genetically modified (GM) corn into the country from the USA until 2025, the Farms news website reported.
Originally scheduled for introduction by March 2024, the delay would allow more time for Mexican officials and industry to analyse the potential economic impact of a ban and explore alternative practices, the 15 April report said.
In a bid to protect native corn varieties and eliminate the use of the herbicide glyphosate, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued a decree on 1 January 2021 banning the use of GM corn by 2024.
Mexico imports about 17M tonnes of corn from the USA, mainly yellow corn for use in feed production, while white corn totals around 5% of that volume. The majority of US corn is genetically modified.
After the USA threated trade retaliation, the Mexican government announced another decree in February relaxing some of the restrictions but maintained the ban on GM corn for certain uses, specifically human consumption. These included tortillas and dough, made mainly from white corn.
Most of Mexico’s imports from the USA are yellow corn for use in animal feed and industrial purposes.
The recently announced interim period was crucial for the seed industry, which may need to move towards producing non-GM and alternative crops to adapt to upcoming changes in import regulations, the report said.
The potential ban had prompted significant discussions regarding the future of agricultural biotechnology and its role in international trade, the Farms wrote.
During the postponement period, Mexico's relevant ministries and the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks would continue to look for alternatives to glyphosate, the report said.
