Genes introduced to Mexican maize varieties through GM maize imports could persist indefinitely if they are beneficial or neutral to local varieties and their removal "is likely to be very difficult and may in fact be impossible", says a report of NAFTAs environment commission. The CEC`s 16-member panel - which includes a former executive of the Monsanto company and the chair of the American Association for the Advancement of Science - made a series of unanimous recommendations: maize imported to Mexico should be labelled and milled at the point of entry to prevent genes from spreading to native varieties. The genetic modification of maize to produce pharmaceuticals or industrial compounds that are incompatible with food and feed should be prohibited.</p><p><a href="http://www.cec.org/maize/index.cfm?varlan=english">NAFTA: Maize and Biodiversity - The Effects of Transgenic Maize in Mexico (also available in panish and French)</a></p><p><a href="http://www.soyatech.com/bluebook/news/viewarticle.ldml?a=20041111-7">Soyatech: US, Mexico disagree on corn importation</a></p><p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4008205.stm">BBC: US maize 'threat' to Mexico farms</a>