Santa Maria Chi, Yucatan — Mexico’s Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) has confirmed the complete removal of 41,570 pigs from the Granja Santa Maria pig farm, marking the end of operations at a facility that became the focus of a years-long legal and environmental battle.
Following an inspection on April 29, Profepa certified that Pecuaria Peninsular, S.P.R. de R.L. de C.V., the company operating the farm, had fully vacated the site, complying with a definitive closure order issued by the agency.
The removal was not immediate but followed a scheduled shutdown plan that began in September 2025 and concluded in April 2026. The closure stems from repeated environmental violations, including the unauthorized discharge of wastewater and failure to characterize sludge.
Profepa issued the closure order on September 4, 2025, and imposed a fine of 18,668,100 pesos (approximately $930,000) on the company.
Years of Conflict
The legal dispute dates back to 2021, when civil organizations and Maya communities filed formal complaints alleging that the farm’s massive operations caused severe environmental damage and deteriorated quality of life in surrounding areas. These complaints prompted Profepa’s technical inspections.
Profepa head Mariana Boy Tamborrell emphasized that the mass removal of pigs addresses not only an administrative infraction but also long-standing community grievances. The intervention aims to halt ecosystem damage and ensure that the pig industry does not operate at the expense of environmental protection and public health.
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