Rules
The gates, by product type
Fifteen product types, the rule at the gate for each, and the official text, read on 11 October 2026.
The instrument that stands between each product type and the Mexican shelf or border, named by its full official Spanish title and its date in the Diario Oficial de la Federación, with one plain line in English. The title and date of every row were read on the official text on 11 October 2026; the plain line is ours. A rule is a starting point for your own case, not the whole file: the tariff line of your product decides which NOMs customs checks.
| Product type | Instrument (official title) and date | What it requires | Who must hold it | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machinery and equipment Industrial machinery for manufacturing plants | Ley Aduanera artículo 59, fracción IV: "Estar inscritos en el Padrón de Importadores" Ley Aduanera publicada DOF 15-12-1995; última reforma DOF 19-11-2025 | The buyer's plant, or whoever acts as importer of record, must be registered in SAT's importers register before the machine can be cleared. Where the machine is electrical or electronic, its safety NOM is shown with a certificate from an accredited body at entry. | The importer of record, usually the Mexican plant. | Official text · Card |
| Building materials Concrete waterproofing and engineered wood | NOM-050-SCFI-2004, Información comercial-Etiquetado general de productos. DOF 01-06-2004; revisión sistemática 11-06-2024: confirmada | The general Spanish commercial label applies; Book 1 names no product-specific NOM for these goods, and structural use answers to the local building code where the project sits. | The importer, whose name and address go on the label. | Official text · Card |
| Electrical products Electrical fixtures | NOM-003-SCFI-2014, Productos eléctricos-Especificaciones de seguridad. DOF 28-05-2015; en vigor 27-05-2016; revisión sistemática 14-08-2025: confirmada | Electrical products carry a safety certificate from an accredited body, presented with the import documents, and a Spanish label, instructions and warranty. | The holder named on the certificate, who can extend it to the importers it chooses. | Official text · Card |
| Electrical products Electrical fixtures | NOM-024-SCFI-2013, Información comercial para empaques, instructivos y garantías de los productos electrónicos, eléctricos y electrodomésticos. DOF 12-08-2013 | See the row above. | Official text · Card | |
| Medicines and supplements An over-the-counter health product | Ley General de Salud artículo 376: "Requieren registro sanitario los medicamentos..." Ley publicada DOF 07-02-1984; artículo 376 reformado DOF 15-01-2026 | An over-the-counter medicine needs a sanitary registration from the health authority, valid five years and extendable for ten-year terms, and its sale class decides whether it can be sold outside a pharmacy. | The holder of the sanitary registration, which owns the right to sell. | Official text · Card |
| Medicines and supplements An over-the-counter health product | Ley General de Salud artículo 226, fracción V (sin receta, sólo en farmacias) y fracción VI (sin receta, en otros establecimientos) Ley publicada DOF 07-02-1984; última reforma de la ley DOF 15-01-2026 | See the row above. | Official text · Card | |
| Packaged food Roasted almonds and pistachios | NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010, Especificaciones generales de etiquetado para alimentos y bebidas no alcohólicas preenvasados-Información comercial y sanitaria DOF 05-04-2010; modificación DOF 27-03-2020; fases ajustadas por Acuerdo DOF 31-07-2025 | Packaged food needs a Spanish label with nutrition information and, where the product passes the limits, the black front-of-pack warning seals. Phase two runs to 31 December 2027; phase three starts 1 January 2028. | The importer, named on the label. | Official text · Card |
| Medical devices Dental equipment and supplies | Ley General de Salud artículo 262, fracción IV ("Insumos de uso odontológico") y artículo 376 (registro sanitario) Ley publicada DOF 07-02-1984; art. 262 reformado DOF 10-05-2023; art. 376 reformado DOF 15-01-2026 | Dental supplies are medical devices under Mexican law. Except for those classed as low risk, each needs a sanitary registration, and every device carries a Spanish health label. | The holder of the sanitary registration. | Official text · Card |
| Medical devices Dental equipment and supplies | NOM-137-SSA1-2008, Etiquetado de dispositivos médicos DOF 12-12-2008; sustituida por la NOM-137-SSA1-2025 (DOF 19-05-2026), que entra en vigor 360 días naturales después | See the row above. | Official text · Card | |
| Farm machinery Farm technology: compact tractors, implements and drip kits | LEY EN MATERIA DE TELECOMUNICACIONES Y RADIODIFUSIÓN artículos 3, 8 y 10 (homologación) DOF 16-07-2025 | We found no product-specific permit for tractors or drip kits. A controller or sensor with a radio or internet module must be homologated with the telecommunications regulator before it is sold. | The maker or importer of the radio-equipped device; the text we read does not name who files. | Official text · Card |
| Animal genetics Dairy and beef genetics | Ley Federal de Sanidad Animal artículo 4: Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios y Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación Ley publicada DOF 25-07-2007; última reforma DOF 21-05-2024 | Semen and embryos enter only against SENASICA's requirement sheet for that product and origin; once the conditions are met, an import certificate is issued at the point of entry after inspection. | The importer, who consults the requirements before shipping. | Official text · Card |
| Small-maker goods by parcel Hand-made bass fishing lures | REGLAS Generales de Comercio Exterior para 2026 y Anexo 13 regla 3.7.35 (envíos por empresas de mensajería y paquetería) DOF 27-12-2025 (firmadas 17-12-2025); vigentes en 2026 | A parcel from the United States by courier with a customs value up to 50 dollars enters with no duty and no IVA, paying only the processing fee; from 50 to 117 dollars a single rate of 17 percent applies, and 19 percent above 117. Goods subject to permits or NOMs cannot use these rates. | The buyer is the importer on a parcel sale; on a stocked route, whoever holds the inventory in Mexico. | Official text · Card |
| Bicycles British folding bicycles | DECRETO por el que se modifica la Tarifa de la Ley de los Impuestos Generales de Importación y de Exportación, y el Decreto por el que se establecen diversos Programas de Promoción Sectorial. DOF 23-04-2026 (edición vespertina); en vigor 24-04-2026 | Bicycles without a motor (line 8712.00.05) and their frames and forks pay 35 percent unless origin under a trade agreement is proved. A British bicycle keeps its preference only if it stays under customs control on its way through the United States. | The Mexican importer of record, which pays the 35 percent if origin fails. | Official text · Card |
| Bicycles British folding bicycles | NOM-050-SCFI-2004, Información comercial-Etiquetado general de productos. DOF 01-06-2004 | See the row above. | Official text · Card | |
| Bicycles British folding bicycles | Ley Aduanera artículo 59, fracción III, inciso d): mercancías originarias en tránsito por un país no Parte deben acreditar que permanecieron bajo control de las autoridades aduaneras Inciso reformado DOF 19-11-2025 | See the row above. | Official text · Card | |
| Electronic equipment Chinese home solar and battery backup | NOM-001-SCFI-2018, Aparatos electrónicos-Requisitos de seguridad y métodos de prueba (cancela a la NOM-001-SCFI-1993). DOF 17-09-2019; en vigor 14-05-2020 | Electronic apparatus such as inverters and power stations carry a safety certificate from an accredited body, presented at entry, and a Spanish label, instructions and warranty. | The holder named on the NOM certificate, which controls who may import the model. | Official text · Card |
| Electronic equipment Chinese home solar and battery backup | NOM-024-SCFI-2013, Información comercial para empaques, instructivos y garantías de los productos electrónicos, eléctricos y electrodomésticos. DOF 12-08-2013 | See the row above. | Official text · Card | |
| Toys and collectibles Japanese anime and hobby collectibles | NOM-015-SCFI-2007, Información comercial-Etiquetado para juguetes. DOF 17-04-2008; revisión sistemática 04-07-2023: confirmada | A figure sold as a toy carries a Spanish toy label and meets the heavy-metal limits for toys and school articles (lead and seven other metals). Whether a piece classes as a toy decides its tariff line. | The Mexican importer of record; the Japanese licensor decides who may sell in Mexico. | Official text · Card |
| Toys and collectibles Japanese anime and hobby collectibles | NOM-252-SSA1-2011, Salud ambiental. Juguetes y artículos escolares. Límites de biodisponibilidad de metales pesados. Especificaciones químicas y métodos de prueba. DOF 15-05-2012; en vigor 13-08-2012 | See the row above. | Official text · Card | |
| Cosmetics Korean skincare | NOM-141-SSA1/SCFI-2012, Etiquetado para productos cosméticos preenvasados. Etiquetado sanitario y comercial. DOF 19-09-2012; en vigor 18-12-2012 | Cosmetics need no sanitary registration, but they carry a Spanish sanitary and commercial label, may make no medicinal claim, and the importer keeps safety studies for the health authority. No animal testing. | The importer of record, which answers for the label and the safety studies. | Official text · Card |
| Cosmetics Korean skincare | Ley General de Salud artículos 269 (productos cosméticos) y 270 ("No podrán atribuirse a los productos cosméticos acciones propias de los medicamentos") Arts. 269 y 270 reformados DOF 07-06-2011; párrafo del art. 270 adicionado DOF 14-10-2021 | See the row above. | Official text · Card | |
| Apparel Generic T-shirts and apparel | DECRETO por el que se reforman diversas fracciones arancelarias de la Tarifa de la Ley de los Impuestos Generales de Importación y de Exportación. DOF 29-12-2025; en vigor 01-01-2026 | Cotton T-shirts pay 35 percent without proved treaty origin, and every garment carries a Spanish textile label. | The importer of record. | Official text · Card |
| Apparel Generic T-shirts and apparel | NOM-004-SE-2021, Información comercial-Etiquetado de productos textiles, prendas de vestir, sus accesorios y ropa de casa DOF 14-01-2022; en vigor 14-01-2023 | See the row above. | Official text · Card | |
| Pet food British pet treats | Ley Federal de Sanidad Animal artículo 4: Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios y Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación Ley publicada DOF 25-07-2007; última reforma DOF 21-05-2024 | Pet food of animal origin enters only against SENASICA's requirement sheet for that product and its country of origin, and is inspected at the point of entry. Routing the goods through a US distributor does not change their country of origin. | The importer; eligibility attaches to the country of manufacture. | Official text · Card |
Coming to this page
Two more sections, dated
Laws we cite, English and Spanish
The articles of Mexican law the series uses, one line each in our words, in both languages, linked to the official text. Planned for weeks 1 to 3 after the launch of Book 1. Plan as of 11 October 2026.
Glossary, US to Mexico
Our own glossary of the Mexican institutions and terms a US seller meets, with counts re-checked. Planned for weeks 1 to 3 after the launch of Book 1. Plan as of 11 October 2026.