Update: Mexico's
New Labeling Standards
By Lewis Stockard
If you export pre-packaged foods or non-alcoholic beverages to
Mexico, you've probably been following the progress of the new
labeling standard, NOM-051 (NOM-051-SCFI-1994: General Labeling
Specifications for Pre-Packaged Foods and Non-Alcoholic
Beverages).
The new rule became effective July 1, 1997, for all imported
and domestically manufactured products. As of November 1, 1997,
all products on shelves had to meet new labeling requirements.
Exporters should note that NOM-051 does not supersede labeling
requirements covered by separate standards, but rather
supplements them. Some U.S. exports are covered by more than one
standard; for example, meat, poultry, table grapes, seafood,
dairy products and rice.
Private Companies Verify Compliance
The Mexican government has authorized 10 companies to perform
the two compliance assurance services available under NOM-051:
- !Constancia
de Conformidad (certificate of compliance)
Border inspectors and customs will look for the constancia
when your product crosses the Mexican border. The
document certifies that product labeling meets the
requirements of NOM-051. A constancia can be
issued on the basis of preinspection of the label prior
to product packaging or stickering.
The one-time fee for certification is about $64.
One certificate can be issued to cover a product family, as
long as the products are of the same type, brand and with
identical or very similar labeling. Each additional member of
the product family adds about $7 to the total cost.
- !Dictamen
de Cumplimiento (judgement of compliance)
The alternative step in the new procedure is a physical
inspection of the actual packaged product. Inspections
are conducted for products in storage before entering
Mexico, products manufactured and stored in Mexico and
products entering the country under a contract with a
verification unit and taken directly to the verification
unit's facilities.
The fee for a Dictamen is about $107. Again,
additional items in a product family can be added for about
$12 each.
Specific NOM-051 Requirements
All label information must be in Spanish, but may also be
expressed in other languages.
- Name or type of product and brand (must be on primary
surface).
- List of ingredients. In descending order, if equal to or
exceeding 5 percent of product composition including
added water, and the percent content of combined
additives or colors.
- Net content, or drained weight, in metric units. (Note:
In Mexico, a comma is used in place of a decimal point.)
- Name and address of manufacturer or importer.
- Country of origin.
- Lot number.
- Expiration date.
- Nutritional information. Voluntary except for products
whose labels make nutritional claims, qualitative or
quantitative in nature, such as low-fat, low-calorie,
low-salt or diet. In such cases, NOM-051 requires that as
of July 1, 1997, products include the following
information per portion basis per the Health Ministry's
standard, NOM-086: Saturated fat and cholesterol in
milligrams for claim of low-fat; sodium in milligrams for
claim of low-salt; sugar in milligrams for claim of
low-sugar; kilocalories for claim of low-calorie; special
working when aspartame and sorbitol are used; special
wording for claim of gluten-free.
- Optional label information may include: "best consumed
by"
dating, complementary nutritional information such as
vitamins and minerals expressed as a percent of the
Mexican daily recommended allowance and instructions for
use or preparation.
If you need further official clarification of the provisions
of NOM-051 or other labeling standards, contact:
Horacio Benjamin Perez
Director General Adjunto
Direccion General de Normas
Secretaria de Comercio y Fomento
Industrial (SECOFI)
Address:
Puente de Tacamachalco
No. 6
Col. Lomas de Tacamachalco
C.P. 53950, Estado de Mexico
Phone: (011-525) 729-9487
Fax: (011-525) 729-9487
The FAS Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Mexico City may
also be able to help you.
The author is a U.S. agricultural attaché in the Office of
Agricultural Affairs, Mexico City, Mexico. Tel.: (011-525)
209-9100; Fax: (011-525) 208-2115; E-mail: AG_MEX@fas.usda.gov
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Last modified:
Thursday, October 14, 2004 PM
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