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Nature 408, 278 (16 November 2000) | doi:10.1038/35042713

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Political uncertainty halts bioprospecting in Mexico

Rex Dalton

International bioprospecting in Mexico has ground to a halt amid uncertainty about the new government's approach to the collection and export of plant samples, and a vocal campaign that has branded the activity as exploitative.Two US-funded teams — each involving scientists from US and Mexican universities — have stopped searching for specimens because they cannot secure the appropriate permits from the Mexican government.