Victor Manuel Arambula, executive secretary of Mexico's biosafety commission, said the country would prohibit any research or introduction of corn varities engineered for non-agricultural purposes, such as producing chemicals used in pharmaceutical products and plastic.

Arambula said the ban would come into force with immediate effect to prevent any genetic contamination of corn cultivated in Mexico for food.

"The action is needed as Mexico is a consumer of corn. It is a very important source of food. Any transgenic change in corn which is a source of food may impact human health," he told reporters at the sidelines of the first Conference of Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety here.

Mexico last year imported 5.6 million tonnes (6.1 million short tons) of yellow corn, mostly from the US, for use as feed.

The US is the largest producer of GM crops in the world and Washington is already embroiled in a row with Europe in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), where it is contesting the EU's de-facto embargo on importing and planting bio-engineered food.

TERRA.WIRE