Mexico Postpones Glyphosate Ban

Due to a lack of clarity regarding a substitute product and to avoid disrupting agricultural production, the Mexican government temporarily postponed the total elimination of glyphosate, which was initially planned for March 31, 2024. 

In an official statement, the federal government announced that it will continue the search for a broad spectrum and low toxicity herbicide to replace glyphosate. The Ministry of Economy (SE), SEMARNAT, SADER, and the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) stated that, since conditions for replacing glyphosate use in Mexican agriculture have not been met yet, safeguarding the country's food security interests must prevail.

In 2023, Mexico reduced glyphosate import quotas by 50% compared to 2022 as part of the herbicide elimination process due to its potential negative health effects on Mexicans as well as environmental repercussions. This, coupled with the prohibition of genetically modified corn, raised concerns from the United States government, as reported by MBN. "We remain firm in our view that Mexico’s current biotechnology trajectory is not grounded in science, which is the foundation of USMCA," reads a statement by US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack from March 2023.

President López Obrador's government emphasized that the actions outlined in the decree have not concluded yet, as the search for an alternative herbicide to glyphosate remains active. "We are working to find options that are available in necessary quantities, associated with national-level marketing chains, and accessible in costs for all types of producers," the statement reads.

SADER stated that it is prepared to receive and evaluate the biological effectiveness of eligible agricultural inputs, when available, through its decentralized body, the National Service for Agro-Food Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA). Meanwhile, SEMARNAT stressed that it will address technical opinion requirements for molecules identified as glyphosate substitutes as needed.

The National Agricultural Council (CNA) celebrated the decision to not compromise Mexico's food security and production. "It is essential that the options considered are available in sufficient quantities, accessible in costs for all types of producers, based on science, and integrated into national-level marketing chains," commented the CNA.

In contrast, the National Council of Humanities, Sciences, and Technologies (CONAHCYT) expressed disagreement in the announcement. According to the scientific organization, there are already several chemical products in Mexico that could replace glyphosate by presenting less toxicity and being more effective.

CONAHCYT reported that the development of three new Mexican formulations with efficiencies of over 90%, has been finalized and is undergoing industrial scaling. Additionally, three commercially available Mexican bioherbicides have already been identified and tested.  Beloukha, Burn Out Formula 2, and Weed Zap, have been approved both by the European Union and the United States, noted the council. 

Regarding current figures, CONAHCYT emphasized that through the national programs Production for Well-Being and Sowing Life, they have achieved the establishment of agroecological systems on over 5.2 million ha of land, with the support of 1.9 million producers, abandoning glyphosate use. "Practices including traditional, manual, or machinery-based methods can continue to be the basis for weed management, without relying on glyphosate. Mexico's food security and sovereignty have never depended, nor should depend, on an imported agrochemical," noted CONAHCYT.