3. Compositional Aspects

Animal Feed
Mexico

This section provides the compositional requirements for the feed category and/or feed products in scope and information on permitted nutrients, ingredients, and additives.

3.1 Composition Requirements

Not in scope.

3.2 Raw Material Requirements

3.2.1 Raw Material Compliance

Not in scope.

3.2.2 GMO Regulatory Requirements

General feed

Genetically Modified Organism: Any living organism, with the exception of human beings, that has acquired a novel genetic combination, generated through the specific use of modern biotechnology techniques defined in this Law, provided that techniques established in this Law or in the official Mexican standards derived from this Law are used [1].

The authority that handles this GMO regulatory requirement is the National Service of Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA). [2,3] Applications for GMO authorizations for human and animal consumption must be done at the Secretariat of Health through The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS).

The list of Genetically Modified Organisms authorized for placing on the market and import includes the following events for soybean [4]:

1. MST-FGØ72-2 x ACS-GMØØ6-4
2. DAS-81419-2 x DAS-44406-6
3. MON-87751-7
4. MON-877Ø5-6 × MON-877Ø8-9 × MON-89788-1
5. MON-877Ø8-9 × MON-89788-1 × ACS-GMØØ6-4
6. MON-87751-7 × MON-877Ø1-2 × MON-877Ø8-9 × MON-89788-1
7. MON-Ø4Ø32-6
8. ACS-GMØØ5-3 x ACS-GMØØ6-4
9. MON-89788-1
10. DP-356Ø43-5
11. DP-3Ø5423-1
12. DP-3Ø5423-1 x MON-Ø4Ø32-6
13. MON-877Ø1-2
14. DP-356Ø43-5 x MON-Ø4Ø32-6
15. BPS-CV127-9
16. MON-877Ø5-6
17. MON-877Ø1-2 x MON-89788-1
18. MON-877Ø8-9
19. MON-87769-7
20. DAS-68416-4
21. MON-877Ø5-6 x MON-89788-1
22. MON-87769-7 x MON-89788-1
23. MON-877Ø8-9 x MON-89788-1
24. DAS-68416-4 x MON-89788-1
25. MST-FGØ72-2
26. DAS-444Ø6-6
27. DAS-81419-2
28. SYN-ØØØH2-5

Category

"Finished products containing only vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or a combination of these and for oral administration" should comply with the above regulations for “General Feed” under Section 3.2.2.
 
Product

"Products containing amino acids" should comply with the above regulations for “General Feed” under Section 3.2.2. 

3.2.2.1 GMO Status

General feed

The use of GMOs in animal feed is allowed under conditions, evaluation, and authorization on a case-by-case basis regardless of whether the GMO crop is on the list of approved GMOs or not [6].

After contacting the authorities from SENASICA, they indicated that in the case that the product to be imported contains GMO derivatives, during the application process for animal health requirements (Escrito Libre), the Authorized Responsible Veterinarian must provide all the information on the ingredients and declare those that are derived from GMOs in order for the Plant Health Directorate to carry out the corresponding evaluation and determine the viability of authorizing the import of the product containing GMOs or their derivatives. The product dossier (Escrito libre) and the documentation supporting it will be forwarded internally to the GMO evaluation area of SENASICA, which will issue its decision on this matter; therefore, the imported company will not have to apply for additional procedures for the product of interest.

It is worth mentioning that Section IV of Article 6 of the Law on Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms [1] establishes that "the sanitary control of derived products and confined production processes involving GMOs authorized under this Law, for human or animal use or consumption, are exempted from this law...". Therefore, it is best understood that the evaluation will be focused on the verification that the product to be imported does not present GM DNA.

For GMOs not included in the list, they must submit an application for approval as described in Articles 91-98 of the Law [1]. To know more about the requirements, please visit the following link [5].

Category

"Finished products containing only vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or a combination of these and for oral administration" should comply with the above regulations for “General Feed” under Section 3.2.2.1.

Product

"Products containing amino acids" should comply with Section 3.2.2.1 on “General Feed” above.

3.3 Fortification

Not in scope.

3.4 Other Permitted Ingredients

Not in scope.

3.5 Permitted Additives

Not in scope.

3.6 Permitted Flavors and Colors 

Not in scope.

3.7 Permitted Processing Aids 

Not in scope.

3.8 Additional Notes 

General feed

No specific labeling requirements on GMOs for animal feeds.

Category

"Finished products containing only vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or a combination of these and for oral administration" should comply with Section 3.8 on “General Feed” above.

Product

"Products containing amino acids" should comply with Section 3.8 on “General Feed” above. 

3.9 References

1. Law on Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms, 2005 (Last Amendment Official Gazette of the Federation 11-05-2022)

https://www.gob.mx/senasica/documentos/ley-de-bioseguridad-de-organismos-geneticamente-modificados-298754?state=published

2. SENASICA - Biosafety for GMO - Genetically Modified Organisms

https://www.gob.mx/senasica/acciones-y-programas/bioseguridad-para-organismos-geneticamente-modificados-51953

3. CIBIOGEM - National Registry of Biosafety of GMOs

https://conacyt.mx/cibiogem/index.php/sistema-nacional-de-informacion/registro-nacional-bioseguridad-ogms

4. List of Genetically Modified Organisms authorized for placing on the market and import https://conacyt.mx/cibiogem/images/cibiogem/sistema_nacional/registro/Lista_autorizaciones_COFEPRIS_2020.pdf

5. Authorization of Genetically Modified Organisms

https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/autorizacion-de-organismos-geneticamente-modificados/COFEPRIS4116

6. Contact with the authority (SENASICA)