Good Day BIO: Mexico must 'explain the science' on corn ban – plus, state legislatures preview

The U.S. told Mexico it has until tomorrow to explain the science behind the biotech corn ban—something BIO’s long called for. Plus, we have an exclusive look at what to expect in the state legislatures in 2023. (Hint: A lot of vaccine-related bills.) (642 words, 3 minutes, 12 seconds)

U.S. calls on Mexico to ‘explain the science’ behind corn ban

Mexico has until tomorrow to “explain the science” behind the planned ban on biotech corn, Reuters reported last week.

ICYMI: Under a 2020 presidential decree, Mexico plans to phase out biotech corn imports in 2024, a move expected to reduce corn imports from the United States by half. Mexico’s plan has been widely criticized by U.S. government officials, farmers, and the biotech industry.  

The latest: In a previously unreported letter, McKalip gave Mexico’s government until Feb. 14 (tomorrow) to respond to the U.S. request for “scientific evidence behind the bans and risk assessments backing the decisions, which are required under the trade agreement launched in 2020,” according to the Reuters exclusive.

What they’re saying: Mexico “rejected 14 separate agricultural product traits that were submitted to them and they did not provide any justification,” McKalip told Reuters. “We want to make sure that they do the science, show their work, and make decisions based upon risk assessments.”

BIO’s been saying this—urging Mexico to reverse its decision and return to timely and science-based risk assessments of biotech traits for agricultural products, consistent with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Why it matters: “The letter marks a legal step in this direction, and further steps include seeking formal consultations over the dispute or asking for a dispute settlement panel to determine whether Mexico’s policies violate the trade deal,” explains the report.

More Reading: Mexico’s GM corn ban a lose-lose scenario, study confirms

What to expect in the state legislatures in 2023

Already, 2023 looks like a dynamic and busy year for biotech on the state level. We spoke to BIO’s State Government Affairs Team about the four issues to watch in the state legislatures this year—read more.

1. Vaccine challenges are front and center.

Vaccines continue to be one of the most contentious issues on the state level, with over 150 vaccine-related bills already introduced in 33 states—a number that will undoubtedly increase. 

Vaccine-related bills fall into a few categories:

• Undermining vaccine mandates and passports.
• Expanding vaccine exemptions as well as targeting school-entry requirements.
• Bills intended to target human cell lines, which arose last year and are already coming up in the early months of 2023.
• Eroding the authority of health departments to declare a public health emergency or determine which immunizations are required for school entry.

2. Medicaid coverage and Accelerated Approval

With recent attention on new Alzheimer’s therapies, there could be more attempts by state Medicaid programs to limit Medicaid access to therapies approved under the Accelerated Approval Pathway—such as what we saw attempted in Oregon.

3. PDABs aren’t going away.

Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs), which aim to cap, control, and dictate the price of drugs at the state level, will continue to be actively introduced in 2023.

So far, Minnesota, Virginia, and New Mexico have already introduced bills to create PDABs, which could impact how Medicaid programs in those states provide coverage for therapies under PDAB review.

State bills may also try to use the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Medicare “Maximum Fair Price” (MFP) when setting an “upper payment limit” on a therapy.

4. Workforce development will be a priority.

Though it is not yet clear how workforce development under the IRA will play out on the state level, it is a priority as states focus on how they will implement the bill. In addition to high-level education and vocational training, workforce development should incorporate short-term, focused training. 

Read the whole thing at Bio.News.

President Biden’s Monday: After a busy weekend taking down UFOs, nothing official is on the agenda.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The Senate is expected to work on nominations, and the Senate Rules Committee will hold a business meeting. The House is in recess.