Mexico · Global Market Access
Entering the Mexican Market: NOM
Mandatory Mexican technical regulations and certification.
- Market
- Mexico
- Site
- Latin America
- Mark
- NOM
01What is it?
NOMs are Mexico's mandatory technical regulations. Several NOMs can apply to a product; labelling is the subject of a separate NOM and is checked at customs.
02Why Does This Scheme Exist?
At the centre of Mexico's conformity arrangement are the MANDATORY OFFICIAL STANDARDS. These are not ordinary standards but legally binding technical regulations: a product within their scope cannot be imported or sold without its conformity to the relevant standard being certified.
Each standard carries its own scope, test method, acceptance criterion and labelling requirement within its own text. The answer to the question "what is required for this product" therefore changes entirely by product group, and there is no general route.
The evidence is a certificate of conformity issued by an authorised certification body. Testing is carried out in accredited laboratories within the country; acceptance of foreign reports is limited and varies by standard.
The most frequently overlooked aspect of the arrangement is that LABELLING is a conformity subject in its own right. The commercial information label, the Spanish language requirement, units of measurement and mandatory information items are governed by a separate mandatory standard and are checked at customs. A shipment can be stopped because of the label even where the product is technically compliant.
The application runs through an importer established in the country and the scope of the certificate is limited to the model and manufacturer; a change of importer in some cases requires the certificate to be reissued. Energy efficiency falls under a separate institution's competence and requires a separate certificate.
03Whose Obligation?
The obligation lies with the importer and the certificate is mostly issued in the importer's name. The importer's details are mandatory on the Spanish label.
04Required Documents
- Test reports to the relevant NOMs
- Product description and model list
- The design and content of the Spanish label
- Importer details
- The NOM certificate
05Process
- 01Scope DeterminationIt is determined which legislation and marking scope the product falls under in the target market. This step defines the entire process; getting it wrong wastes all subsequent work.
- 02Determining Applicable StandardsThe standards accepted by the market and any national deviations are identified. The same IEC standard may apply with different deviations in different markets.
- 03Establishing the Test PlanIt is assessed which part of existing test reports will be accepted; missing tests are planned. A CB Scheme report, if available, reduces retesting.
- 04Local Party and RegistrationIf the market requires an established representative, importer or applicant, this party is designated and the necessary registrations are made.
- 05Tests and Technical FileTests are conducted and the technical file is prepared. Some markets require testing to be performed within their own country.
- 06Certification or DeclarationDepending on the market's regime, a manufacturer's declaration is drawn up or a certificate is obtained from the authorised body; a factory audit is carried out if required.
- 07Marking and LabellingThe mark and label are applied according to the market's format and language rules. The language requirement is checked at customs in most markets.
- 08Shipment and CustomsIf a pre-shipment document is required, it is obtained; the document set to be presented at customs is completed.
06Points to Watch
- The labelling NOM is a separate obligation and is checked at customs
- The label cannot be completed without the importer's details
- Certificate scope is defined on a model basis
- Energy efficiency NOMs additionally apply to products within their scope
07Neighbouring Schemes and the Difference
- 01The product standard and the labelling standardLabelling is subject to its own mandatory standard and is a separate conformity subject; the product certificate does not cover label conformity.
- 02Mandatory standards and radio approvalThe radio and telecommunications side falls under a separate authority's competence; a product safety certificate does not satisfy radio approval.
- 03Product safety and energy efficiencyEnergy efficiency falls under a separate institution's competence and requires a separate certificate; the two are planned together.
- 04North American certificatesCertificates obtained for neighbouring markets are not directly valid; the mandatory official standards require their own evidence.
08Scheme Detail
This page describes entry into the Mexico market. The scheme itself — its scope, process, validity period and required documents — is covered in detail on the certification page.
Mexican Conformity (NOM) Certification09Other Marks in the Mexico Market
10Frequently Asked Questions
This section's content is being prepared. The roadmap specific to your product and target market at the quote stage in writing.
The certification timeline varies with the product, the required test workload, sample shipping time and the authority's workload; for this reason, no duration in days or weeks is given on these pages. The main factors determining the timeline are: whether testing must be performed in the target country, whether a factory audit is required, the time to appoint a local representative, and the current maturity of the technical file. A realistic timeline for your product is provided in writing at the quote stage.
Market access regimes change frequently: scope lists are updated, transition periods are extended, new requirements are added. These pages describe the structure of the regime and who bears the obligation; the applicable scope and dates for your product are confirmed from the current legislative text at the quote stage.
Mexico · NOM roadmap for
Tell us about your product; we'll share the required steps, documents and timeline in writing.