Mexican Lawmakers Likely to Ban 200 Chemicals Used in Pesticides

In Mexico, there is a growing movement against the use of pesticides and genetically modified crops, but some government officials believe the latest proposal goes too far, too fast. In a presidential decree that seeks to ban genetically modified corn by 2024, Mexico has already begun phasing out the herbicide glyphosate, found in Roundup.

In the coming days, Senate committees will consider whether to support the plan to phase out 183 different chemicals found in pesticides commonly used in agriculture, gardening, and homes by 2024. If passed, it would go to the Senate and then the lower house for a vote. The plan has the support of senators from Lopez Obrador's MORENA party, the opposition, the president of the Senate's health commission, and Mexico's Deputy Agriculture Secretary Victor Suarez.

The proposed bill encourages the use of bio inputs, which are products made from plant or microorganism extracts, to replace the need for pesticides. The bill includes some chemicals that are already widely banned, such as DDT, but it also includes insecticides Deltamethrin and Clothianidin, which are used to treat crops and are found in some Raid products. Raid's creator, S.C. Johnson, did not respond to a request for comment.

Supporters argue that the proposal places Mexico at the forefront of a global movement to limit the use of dangerous pesticides. Critics warn that it would go far beyond steps taken in other countries seen as tough on pesticides, such as Europe, where chemicals are banned.

According to Mexico's Union of Manufacturers and Formulators of Agrochemicals (UMFFAAC), which represents approximately 35% of the crop protection market, the ban would eliminate 60% of the pesticides currently registered in the country. The group's president, Luis Eduardo Gonzalez Cepeda, predicted that reduced pest control would reduce Mexican profits and increase reliance on foreign imports.

Agriculture Secretary Suarez, a vocal opponent of agrochemicals, said the initiative allows Mexico to follow the precautionary principle, or "safety first." "When the industry says, 'Give me scientific proof that they cause harm.' No, you provide scientific evidence that they are not harmful. The burden of proof is on you, not on me," Suarez said.

However, Suarez's boss, Agriculture Minister Victor Villalobos, warned the Senate last month that quickly banning pesticides could result in food insecurity and higher prices, infuriating some close to the president who believed he was defying Lopez Obrador's decree. According to Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, a former US government official involved in agricultural trade negotiations, if approved, the pesticide ban could have implications for Mexico's trade partners, including the United States.

“Mexico could be forced to conduct its own research on pesticides that are already prohibited under international law. A trade conflict could arise if Mexico does not conduct the necessary risk assessment, and there is an impact on trade," she said.