In what is being called a significant victory for Mexico, Monsanto has withdrawn its legal challenge against the 2020 presidential decree aimed at banning glyphosate and genetically modified (GM) corn for human consumption.
The National Council of Humanities, Sciences and Technologies (Conahcyt) heralded the decision as “a triumph for life, health and food sovereignty.”
Monsanto’s subsidiaries, Semillas y Agroproductos Monsanto and Monsanto Comercial, ratified their withdrawal on June 25.
Monsanto produces the herbicide Roundup, one of several glyphosate-based products that are used in the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMO) such as Roundup Ready corn, cotton and soybeans. A common genetic modification makes crops resistant to glyphosate, allowing farmers to apply large amounts of the weed-killer to GMO crops.
The legal battle was initiated in response to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s 2020 decree to ban the widely used but controversial herbicide, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified as a “probable carcinogen,” though its safety remains a subject of debate.
The battle included over 30 amparo (judicial protective order) suits aiming to declare the decree unconstitutional. In July 2022, for example, Bayer, which acquired Monsanto six years ago, obtained a court order against the application of the decree.
However, the majority of the cases concluded with rulings unfavorable to the corporations involved.
Conahcyt provided scientific and legal defenses, presenting more than 250 pieces of evidence to support the decree.
Judge Francisco Rebolledo Peña’s July 2022 ruling in favor of Monsanto was appealed by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) and Conahcyt.
Citing human rights and environmental safety concerns, the appeal eventually led to Mexico’s Fourth Collegiate Court on Administrative Matters rejecting Monsanto’s arguments. Earlier this year, that same body slapped down an amparo brought by Walmart Mexico against the nation’s updated tobacco control law, which added promotional and advertising bans to the nationwide ban against smoking in public areas.
Monsanto’s retreat is not its first legal setback. The company has faced extensive litigation in the United States, paying billions in punitive damages and settlements linked to glyphosate’s carcinogenic risks.
Internal documents revealed during the trials in Mexico indicated that Monsanto was aware of glyphosate’s cancer risks and engaged in misleading scientific practices and discrediting independent researchers.
The 2020 decree was replaced by a 2023 decree, which reaffirmed the initial ban and introduced additional restrictions on GM corn.
That led to Mexico also facing anger from the United States, which was not happy over Mexico’s plan to ban the importation of GM corn for use in dough and tortillas by 2024, then gradually phase out imports of GM corn for any kind of human consumption and then for use as animal feed.
Monsanto also wanted to suspend the 2023 decree, and a few months ago, Mexico seemed to be giving in a bit when it postponed the glyphosate ban citing lack of available alternatives.
In shooting down Monsanto’s latest legal challenges, Judge Elizabeth Trejo Galán emphasized the precedence of public over private interest.
Conahcyt noted in a press release that it continues to support alternative agricultural practices and bioinputs, highlighting their effectiveness in various regions.
Noting that the legal victory over Monsanto underscores Mexico’s commitment to safeguarding public health and environmental integrity, Conahcyt vowed to continue its efforts to ensure that GM corn and glyphosate are removed from the Mexican food supply.
With reports from Regeneración, Reforma and Por Esto
Yet another example of Licenciado Manuel Lopez Obrador’s humanistic values, a president who loves and cares for Mexico’s people, whether rich or poor.
It’s commendable that Mexico has succeeded while the U.S. population is still subjected to glyphosate and GM crops.
Estoy en acuerdo y muy feliz!!
Thank you Mexican Government not giving in to American interests. Interests which are shortsighted only for profitable gain
,Here you get a clue of how corporate corruption in the USA is worse than cartel corruption in Mexico.
Corporations like Monsanto are comparable in danger and corruptibility to mexican cartels.
Sometimes Im not a big AMLO fan, but this one makes me smile.
2 Devils joined forces….
For those that may be aware, these days Monsanto is owned by Bayer. FYI:
IG Farben was the largest Chemical Company in the world during WW2 . Among other things, they provided Hitler with the deadly Zyklon B gas. This vaporous form of a highly toxic pesticide, was used, along with carbon monoxide to kill millions of innocents, primarily Jews, as well as the disabled from all persuasions.
At the end of WW2, a number of IG’s top executives were convicted of war crimes. After serving their time, AG Bayer, one of the few surviving entities of IG Farben, eagerly embraced them, bestowing upon them enormous salary’s and top executive posts in their company . .
Yes, the marriage of Monsanto to Bayer, is a scary thing, with a tortured history.
Yes, Amlo did the country a great service by daring to take on this corporate monolith. While that won’t prevent their GMO seed from coming to Mexico (think wind drift), it will stop them from marketing it to millions.
Sadly, U.S. politicians have shown no such bravado. Thanks to special interest groups, 97% of Americans have “forever chemicals” in their blood, according to the CDC . And Round Up is a big one.
G- d bless the Amlos’ of the world who have the courage to actually fight for their people.