Browse Data and Analysis

On March 17, 2025, Mexico adopted a constitutional amendment banning domestic cultivation of “genetically modified” corn

The only genetically engineered (GE) product in commercial production is GE cotton, with obsolete seeds and only in restricted areas. There has been no advance in plant or animal biotechnology development and production, mainly due to policy and regulatory constraints.

Since the previous report, Taiwan has granted new approvals for imports of genetically engineered (GE) products for processing, food, and feed use. Taiwan has never permitted domestic production of GE crops or animals. In 2023, Taiwan imported close to $930 million of U.S. crops including soybeans, corn, and cotton, accounting for 25 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports to the island.

Following the June 2024 election of Claudia Sheinbaum as the next President of Mexico, the sitting President Andres Manuel López Obrador expressed intent to move forward with constitutional reforms in the September 2024 legislative session.

Mexico's biotechnology regulatory policy environment has become increasingly uncertain under the current administration. The government has not approved any applications for genetically engineered (GE) products for food and feed use since May 2018 and has not approved any permits for planting GE crops since 2019.

Since the previous report, Taiwan has granted new approvals for imports of genetically engineered (GE) products for processing, food, and feed use. Taiwan has never permitted domestic production of GE crops or animals.

On February 13, 2023, Mexico published a modified 2023 Corn Decree in the Diario Official Federal (DOF). The new Presidential decree abrogates the 2020 GE Corn Decree and is immediately effective on February 14, 2023.

Mexico has not officially reported any approvals for genetically engineered (GE) agricultural products for food and feed use since May 2018. Additionally, Mexico has not approved any permit applications for cultivation of GE crop (cotton and alfalfa)...

Since the previous report, Taiwan has granted new approvals for imports of genetically engineered (GE) products for processing, food, and feed use. Taiwan has never permitted domestic production of GE crops or animals. In 2021, Taiwan imported close to $1.2 billion of U.S. GE crops including soybeans, corn, and cotton, accounting for 30 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports to the island.

Mexico has not approved any biotechnology food or feed products since May 2018 and there is no official indication when approvals will resume.

On December 31, Mexico published a final decree that calls for a phase-out of use of both glyphosate and genetically modified (GE) corn for human consumption in Mexico.

Mexico has not approved any biotechnology food or feed products since May 2018 and there is no official indication when approvals will resume.