Mexico on Monday canceled a deadline to ban genetically modified corn for animal feed and industrial use amid trade tensions with the United States, but maintained plans to ban the use of grain for human consumption as well as the herbicide glyphosate.

The measure, passed in a government decree, eliminates January 2024 as the date for the country to ban GM Corn for animal feed and industrial use, a statement from the Ministry of Economy said.

Amid a growing dispute over the possible disruption of the billion-dollar corn trade, U.S. officials and farmers have called for clarity on Mexico's ban. The country annually buys about 17 million tons of transgenic yellow corn from the United States, most of which is used for animal feed.

Mexico said it still plans to revoke and refrain from granting new permits for gmo corn for human consumption, which the decree defined as flour, pasta or tortilla made with the grain. The ban does not apply to transgenic corn used in the industrial manufacture of products such as cosmetics, textiles and paper, the decree said.

Around 18% to 20% of the corn Mexico imports from the United States is white corn, used in food products such as tortillas, according to industry experts.

By decree, the new measures came into force on Tuesday, 14. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Economy did not immediately respond to a question about whether Mexico would begin revoking permits for gmo corn for human consumption on Tuesday.

The decree also says Mexico will revoke permits and permits to import, produce, distribute and use the herbicide glyphosate, a plan the country has had since the end of 2020. A transitional period would be in place until 31 March 2024.

The Cofepris health authority shall be responsible for the authorisations of genetically modified maize for use in animal feed or in industrial manufacturing processes, subject to the availability of supply.

Mexico and the U.S. are at odds over an original decree issued by Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador in 2020 that sought to phase out imports of gmo corn and glyphosate by January 2024.

U.S. officials have threatened to take action under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on possible disruption of corn trade.

The new Head of U.S. agricultural trade told Reuters last week that he gave Mexico until February 14 to respond to a request to explain the science behind Mexico's planned bans.

Cofepris will conduct scientific studies with partners from other countries to investigate the health impacts of gmo maize consumption, the decree added.

Source: RPA news