Browse Data and Analysis

This document provides an overview of major Mexican agricultural and food-product laws and regulations, as well as related import standards and regulations.

Canada continues to be the largest export market for U.S. consumer-oriented products. In 2023, U.S. consumer-oriented exports to Canada reached $20.2 billion, representing 25 percent of the total value of U.S. consumer-oriented exports worldwide.

The United Kingdom (UK) is the largest consumer of wood pellets, globally. UK wood pellet regulations have not significantly diverged from the European Union (EU) following Brexit.

The Government of Bulgaria (GOB) continues to oppose agricultural biotechnology. Non-governmental anti-biotech organizations, local activists, and Bulgaria’s organics industry actively spread nonscientific disinformation about biotechnology. Meanwhile, Bulgaria’s poultry, dairy, and livestock stakeholders continue to import biotech-derived feed ingredients.

Canada is the largest overseas market for U.S. high-value, consumer-oriented products, with exports reaching $20.4 billion in 2023 – representing a 2 percent growth from 2022. Canada's retail market is mature and largely consolidated, with five retailers comprising nearly 80 percent of the total retail grocery market.

The United Kingdom is still facing a cost-of-living crisis. In October 2024, businesses and consumer confidence indexes dropped to the lowest level this year as uncertainty looms with regards to the newly elected Labour administration and what they may announce in the October 30 government budget.

After two consecutive years of short olive oil production, MY 2024/25 olive oil output in the EU is expected to revert to average levels on good flowering conditions and a mild summer. Fall precipitation will be critical to final production volumes.

According to preliminary model-based field crop estimates, spring wheat production in MY 2024/2025 fell one percent over the previous year on a 2.9 percent decline in area planted, partly offset by improved average yields.

The Government of Argentina (GOA) approved five new genetically engineered (GE) events in late 2023 and 2024, including one cotton, two soybean, and two corn events. In 2024, the first three applications were submitted for joint assessment by the agricultural regulatory agencies of Argentina and Brazil under the Cooperation Agreement on Biosafety of Modern Biotechnology Products, signed in 2022.

Honduras has made no modifications to its existing regulatory framework regarding genetically engineered (GE) crops. As of October 2024, planted area of GE corn in Honduras has increased by 29 percent from the previous year, rising from 52,000 to 67,000 hectares. In 2024, the National Committee on Biotechnology and Biosecurity approved six events.

Croatia is a net food importer with policies focused on increasing agricultural productivity. However, Croatia competitive advantage remains in marketing premium "natural" agricultural products and is opposed to full and open adoption of biotechnology foods. Croatia follows the European Union’s (EU) biotech legislation but has “opted-out” of planting genetically engineered (GE) seeds.

Following the departure of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) in 2021 there was optimism that the UK would adopt a more scientific and proportionate approach to the regulation of genetically engineered (GE) and genetic technology products.