The Mexican government published this Monday a decree clarifying the terms under which it will allow imports of transgenic corn.
In particular, Article Eight of the Decree establishes that the implementation of alternatives for the gradual substitution in the country of genetically modified corn for animal feed and industrial use for human food must be carried out based on supply sufficiency criteria.
It should also be done in congruence with the country’s food self-sufficiency policies, in accordance with scientific principles and relevant international standards, guidelines or recommendations.
In addition, the relevant scientific studies will be carried out, for which the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks will integrate a joint research protocol so that, under its coordination, a study on the consumption of genetically modified corn and the possible damages to health will be carried out by said entity and the equivalent instances of other countries.
Corn imports
Article Nine stipulates that the interpretation of the same decree corresponds to the Ministries of the Environment and Natural Resources, Health and Agriculture and Rural Development, within the scope of their respective competencies.
Then, Article Ten establishes that non-compliance with the provisions of the decree by the agencies and entities of the Federal Public Administration will give rise to the corresponding administrative responsibilities in terms of the General Law of Administrative Responsibilities.
On the other hand, Article Seven states that the agencies and entities of the Federal Public Administration will carry out the necessary actions in order to carry out the gradual substitution of genetically modified corn for animal feed and industrial use for human food.
Until the substitution referred to in the preceding paragraph is achieved, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks may grant authorizations of genetically modified corn for animal feed and industrial use for human consumption, being the responsibility of whoever uses it in Mexico that it does not have the intended use in human consumption.
The decree, published by the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader) in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF), will enter into force this Tuesday.
