Mexico proposes to the US a joint analysis on corn

Mexico proposed to the United States to establish joint investigations related to the bilateral trade in transgenic corn.

“If a biotechnological is not harmful to health, then what the president (Andrés Manuel López Obrador) offered at the time to the Secretary of Agriculture was that we do joint research, do the joint analysis, that Cofepris work with its mirror, that it is the FDA, to see these issues and it is on the table”, said Raquel Buenrostro, Secretary of Economy.

The commercialization, import and processing of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) destined for human use or consumption require authorization from Cofepris, an agency of the Ministry of Health.

This unit carries out a risk assessment, in accordance with scientific protocols, to determine the safety of GMOs and their products for human consumption.

GMOs or products that contain them, and that are intended for direct human consumption, must bear an explicit reference to GMOs and include their food composition or nutritional properties on the label, in those cases in which they are significantly different from conventional products.

“If we are going to evaluate a new genetically modified product, let’s do it together (…) They (US officials) do not see it as a bad thing that it is a joint scientific effort between the FDA and Cofepris,” added Buenrostro.

Mexico is the main importer of US corn and the second largest buyer worldwide. The Consulting Group of Agricultural Markets (GCMA) estimates that Mexico will buy about 18 million tons in 2022 for almost 6,000 million dollars.

The Ministry of Agriculture of Mexico issues the NOMs that specify the labeling for seeds or other material intended for sowing, cultivation and agricultural production, which contain GMOs (article 101 of the Federal Law on Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms).

Mexico recently proposed to the United States to extend the deadline, from 2024 to 2025, to begin banning imports of transgenic corn for human consumption, as well as to modify a decree to clarify certain related regulations.

roberto.morales@eleconomista.mx