Northwest Horticultural Council
Export Manual
MEXICO
Capital: Mexico CityPopulation: 130,207,371 (July 2021 est.)
Currency: Peso
Official Language(s): Spanish
I. CHEMICAL MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS (MRLs)
Please click on the above link for a list of chemical MRLs.
Apple MRLs in Top Markets – updated March 10, 2021
Pear MRLs in Top Markets – updated March 10, 2021
Cherry MRLs in Top Markets – updated March 10, 2021
II. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVE INFORMATION
A. Chemical residue standards:
Mexico maintains a national list of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides. However, the status of the national MRL regulation is unclear. In practice, it is understood that Mexico accepts U.S. MRLs for products imported from the U.S. Mexico does not use a default MRL.
B. Monitoring chemical residues:
A small monitoring pilot program with laboratory testing conducted by Senasica was initiated in December 2011. Program details are not available.
C. Restrictions on use of waxes:
None
III. ORGANIC FRUIT REGULATIONS
By December 31, 2021, apples, cherries, and pears must be certified to Mexico’s organics law (Ley de Producto Orgánicos (LPO)) to be sold in Mexico as organic and documentation of certification will be required at port of entry.
Until the implementation date, products certified as organic under the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) may continue to enter and be sold in Mexico, however securing certification before the deadline is recommended. Mexico’s National Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality Service (SENASICA) estimates that certification will take at least 90 business days to complete. Several organizations are accredited by SENASICA to conduct certifications. A list can be found here.
IV. TARIFFS
On January 1, 2003, the import tariff on U.S. and Canadian apples was eliminated as required under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
The duties on pear imports from Argentina and apple imports from Chile are also zero. Apples imported from other countries are subject to a 20 percent duty.
Mexico also has a 15 percent value-added tax (VAT, or IVA in Spanish). The VAT is assessed on the FOB invoice value plus the ad valorem duty.
V. NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
A. Labeling requirements:
Mexico requires that shipping cartons show the following printed information:
1. Name of the product (apple)
2. Importer name, address, and RFC (taxation number)
3. TF (treatment facility) number
All consumer packages of fruit, such as bagged apples, must be labeled in Spanish with the following information:
1. Name of the product;
2. Net weight;
3. Importer’s name, corporate identification and fiscal domicile;
4. Country of origin; and
5. Batch (lot) number.
6. Exporter’s name and address
The information concerning the importer’s name, corporate identification, and fiscal domicile may be placed on the package after it has cleared customs and prior to marketing. The legend, “Not labeled for individual sale” also must appear in Spanish on the package. The information in Spanish must be in lettering of the same size, typographic proportions and must appear in an equally obvious manner as information in other languages.
Cherry export cartons: Required carton marks may be applied to the carton using permanent ‘print-and-apply’ labels, like those used by FedEx or UPS. Only one label per carton may be used; a corrective second label is not allowed.
B. Licenses and quotas:
None
C. Currency Issues:
None
D. Pest and plant disease restrictions:
Cydia molesta (Oriental fruit moth) and Rhagoletis pomonella (apple maggot) are the main quarantine pests of concern for Mexico. We believe that we are at low risk of delivering fruit infested with any of these pests. However, if any codling moth is found in the border inspection it could be misidentified as oriental fruit moth. Shipments found to contain pests of quarantine concern will not be allowed to enter Mexico.
Apples: Packing facilities interested in exporting apples to Mexico should first contact Northwest Fruit Exporters, or the Northwest Horticultural Council, to obtain a copy of the work plan and relevant regulations. The telephone number for the Northwest Fruit Exporters is 509-453-3193. Participating packing facilities register with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). In Washington state facilities register through the Washington State Department of Agriculture
Apple shipments to Mexico must comply with the “Work Plan for the Exportation of Apples from the Northwest of the United States to Mexico.” Apples must be cold treated at 0° Celsius for 40 days or at 3.3° Celsius for 90 days prior to shipment. Cold treatment rooms must be certified by USDA APHIS through the respective state departments of agriculture.
Pears: A federal phytosanitary certificate (certificate) is required. Both the state and county of production must be shown on the certificate “Place of Origin” line. The following additional declaration also is required, “The pears in this shipment are free of Cydia molesta and Conotrachelus nenuphar and were produced in the States of Oregon, Washington or California. This shipment was not produced in areas regulated (quarantined) for fruit flies of quarantine importance.” The certificate must be issued at the place of packing.
The shipment must be substantially free of leaves and debris. A two-leaf per carton tolerance is allowed. The cartons must be marked with a lot number and the address of the grower/packer.
During the certification inspection, the standard of a minimum inspection level of 2 percent, as per APHIS policy, must be maintained. Additionally, of that 2 percent, cutting of a minimum of 2 fruits per box plus any suspect fruit is required.
NOTE: Extra effort should be applied for the detection of larvae.
Cherries: A work plan was implemented December 2, 2004, for the export of Pacific Northwest cherries to Mexico. Preseason registration is required. Packing facilities must register with USDA APHIS through the Washington State Fruit Commission. NOTE: Mexico does not allow corrections or additions to the list during the season. Please contact your state cooperators, Northwest Fruit Exporters or the Northwest Horticultural Council for additional information at (509) 453-3193.
Apricots: A pilot systems approach work plan was implemented in the spring of 2002, and made permanent February 4, 2004, for the export of Pacific Northwest apricots to Mexico. Preseason registration is required. Packing facilities must register with USDA APHIS through the Northwest Fruit Exporters. NOTE: Mexico does not allow corrections or additions to the list during the season. Please contact your state cooperators, Northwest Fruit Exporters or the Northwest Horticultural Council for additional information at (509) 453-3193.
E. Other requirements:
Solid Wood Packing Material (SWPM):
Please refer to the SWPM section of the NHC’s Technical Bulletins and Industry Advice.
Apple shipments:
Mexico requires that the following information be included on the invoice or import documents for apple shipments:
a) The description of the product, as well as the tariff number.
b) Quality grade of the apple.
c) Apple Size.
d) Weight in kilograms of boxes.
Example of above:
Fresh apples, 0808.10.01
Red Delicious
WA Exfancy, size 88, boxes of 19.60 kg.
Ports of entry:
Apples are allowed to enter Mexico through the ports of Neuvo Laredo, Mexicali, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nogales, Ciudad Reynosa, Piedras Negras, Matamoros, and Colombia.
VI. MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY:
Washington Apple Commission/Northwest Cherry Growers/Washington State Fruit Commission:
Juan Carlos Moreira
Jurica, Querentaro, Mexico
Voice/Fax: +52 442 161 2988
E-mail: jcmarketing.mx@gmail.com
Pear Bureau Northwest:
Luis Moreno
Grupo PM S.A. de C.V.
Cuernavaca, Mexico
Voice: +52 777 316 7370
Fax: +52 777 316 7369
E-mail: grupopm@grupopm.com
VII. OTHER RESOURCE LINKS:
Governmental:
- The World Factbook (Central Intelligence Agency)
- Mexico (U.S. Commercial Service/Department of Commerce)
- U.S. Embassy
VIII. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Effective July 1, 2020, the U.S. – Mexico – Canada Agreement (USMCA) will not require a specific certificate of origin as was required by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Form 434 (NAFTA certificate of origin) is not mandatory under the USMCA. USCMA requires a “certification of origin”; and a NAFTA certificate of origin contains the elements required by the USCMA certification of origin. However, any format is acceptable, provided it contains the following nine minimum data elements set out in USCMA, Annex 5-A:
- Importer, Exporter, or Producer Certification of Origin
- Certifier
- Exporter
- Producer
- Importer
- Description and HS Classification of the Good
- Origin Criteria
- Blanket Period (if applicable)
- Authorized Signature and Date
The data elements must indicate that the goods claiming preferential treatment originate and meet the requirements of USMCA Chapter 5 detailed in CBP’s USMCA Interim Implementing Instructions, see Appendix III, page 38. This information may be provided on an invoice or any other document. The information must describe the originating good in sufficient detail to enable its identification and meet the requirements as set out in the Uniform Regulations.
For more information on certification requirements and the data elements listed above, please see USMCA, Article 5 and Annex 5-A, available at the U.S. Trade Representative website and the CBP website in advance of the USMCA’s entry into force. For merchandise entered into commerce on or before June 30, 2020, NAFTA rules will continue to apply. (Note: there will be additional updates to the CBP website going forward). Additionally, Canada Produce Marketing Association has a sample document that can be found here.
Mexican customs require that all exporters’ invoices and country of origin certificates show the full street address including the city, state, and zip code. Do not list a P.O. Box number. If a P.O. Box is used, Mexican Customs may confiscate the product.
Mexican Customs provides exporters a 15 day grace period to correct any minor clerical errors, omissions, or missing documentation regarding required paperwork, provided that the errors do not call into question the authenticity of the documents.