Mexico Approves Constitutional Ban on Planting Genetically Modified Corn

Mexico’s lower house has enacted a constitutional ban on genetically modified (GM) corn planting. This decision reinforces earlier restrictions, despite a prior ruling that deemed Mexico’s GM corn limitations scientifically unsubstantiated.

The reform strengthens protections for native corn and traditional agriculture, aiming to uphold biosafety and safeguard the nation’s biocultural heritage, according to a press release.

On Tuesday, March 18, Mexico’s lower house of Congress approved a constitutional reform banning the planting of genetically modified (GM) corn. Taking effect immediately, the ban stems from efforts initiated by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. A broader ban on GM corn had faced legal challenges, especially after a December 2024 trade dispute ruling. That ruling found Mexico’s GM corn restrictions violated the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), citing a lack of scientific justification and unfair limitations on U.S. market access. In response, Mexico lifted its import restrictions on GM corn for human consumption, livestock feed, and industrial use — impacting roughly $5 billion in annual U.S. exports, primarily for animal feed.

Despite potential economic consequences, President Sheinbaum’s administration took further action to ensure GM corn can no longer be legally planted in Mexico, reaffirming its commitment to protecting traditional agriculture and food security. According to the president, the law will “guarantee biodiversity, food sovereignty, and the health of Mexicans.”

The newly approved reform strengthens previous legal measures by enshrining the ban in Mexico’s Constitution. It aims to preserve native corn varieties, safeguard biodiversity, and uphold food sovereignty. The reform prohibits GM corn cultivation while imposing strict legal oversight to mitigate risks to biosafety, public health, and Mexico’s biocultural heritage — aligning with the government’s focus on rural development and the protection of traditional farming systems.

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