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Non tariff measures in Mexico: import and export permits, quotas, origin marking and Mexican official standards (NOM) at the border

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Last verified: 2026-10-26 · Status: Changing

Besides duties, many Mexican tariff lines carry non tariff measures: prior permits from the Ministry of Economy, quotas, country of origin marking, certifications and Mexican official standards (NOMs), each identified by tariff line and published in the DOF. Compliance must be shown at clearance, normally by an electronic document or permit discharge declared in the pedimento; missing it is an infraction punished with a fine of 250 to 300 percent of the commercial value of the goods and allows customs to seize them. Exports can also be restricted, and since 1 May 2026 the Ley de Comercio Exterior expressly allows export measures to prevent unauthorized deforestation and land use change and for labor and social security reasons.

USD conversions use MXN 18.5026 per US dollar, the US Federal Reserve H.10 noon buying rate in New York for 16 October 2026 (FRED series DEXMXUS), the latest observation available when this page was verified. Mexican customs converts foreign currency values at the rate set under the customs rules, which differs slightly. Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Maximum term for the Ministry of Economy to decide a prior permit	15 business daysLey de Comercio Exterior art. 21, section III, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Fine for importing without the required non tariff measure (non vehicles)	250 to 300 % of commercial valueLey Aduanera art. 178, section IV, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Fine for vehicles imported without the required non tariff measure (2026)	7520 to 18760 MXNLey Aduanera art. 178, section II; RGCE 2026 Annex 13, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Default method to allocate quotas	Public tender Ley de Comercio Exterior art. 24, as of 2026-10-26 · in force

The rule

1. Types of measures and how they are created. Non tariff measures on imports and exports are issued by agreement of the Ministry of Economy, alone or with the competent authority, after review by the Foreign Trade Commission and publication in the DOF, and consist of prior permits, maximum quotas, country of origin marking, certifications, countervailing duties and other instruments. Goods subject to them are identified by tariff line, and compliance must be shown with documents with security features or by electronic means.Ley de Comercio Exterior, DOF 27 July 1993 (last reform DOF 1 May 2026), Arts. 4o., section III, 17, 17 A and 20, 1993-07-27 official text · verified 2026-10-26

2. When imports may be restricted. Import measures may be set temporarily to correct balance of payments problems under treaties, to regulate entry of used goods, waste or goods without a substantial market in their country of origin, under treaties, in response to unilateral restrictions on Mexican exports, against unfair trade practices, and for national security, public health, plant and animal health or ecology situations not covered by NOMs.Ley de Comercio Exterior, DOF 27 July 1993, Art. 16, 1993-07-27 official text · verified 2026-10-26

3. When exports may be restricted. Export measures may be set to secure supply of basic consumer goods and raw materials or regulate non renewable resources, under treaties, for goods with constitutional restrictions, to protect endangered fauna and flora and, since 2026, to prevent deforestation and land use change in forest land without authorization, to preserve historic, artistic or archaeological goods, and for national security, public health, plant and animal health, ecology and, since 2026, labor and social security situations not covered by NOMs.Ley de Comercio Exterior (reform DOF 1 May 2026), Art. 15, sections I to VI, 2026-05-01 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: Decree DOF 1 May 2026 amended art. 15, sections IV and VI, adding deforestation and unauthorized land use change and labor and social security grounds for export measures.

4. Prior permits and quotas. The Ministry of Economy decides permit requests within a maximum of 15 business days; each permit states its conditions, term, value and quantity. A quota is the amount of a good that may be imported or exported, either as a maximum or within a tariff rate quota; quotas are allocated by public tender as a rule, or by other procedures that ensure access for new applicants or that treaties provide. Prior permits may not be used to enforce NOMs or as an anti dumping tool.Ley de Comercio Exterior, DOF 27 July 1993, Arts. 21 to 24, 1993-07-27 official text · verified 2026-10-26

5. Mexican official standards and origin marking. Imports, circulation and transit are subject to NOMs under the law on the matter, and no standards other than NOMs may be imposed on imports. The Ministry of Economy determines, after review by the Commission and publication in the DOF, which NOMs customs must enforce at the point of entry, by tariff line. The Ministry may also require imported goods to bear a country of origin mark.Ley de Comercio Exterior, DOF 27 July 1993, Arts. 25 and 26, 1993-07-27 official text · verified 2026-10-26

6. Consequences at the border. Importing or exporting without the required permit, without the electronic discharge of the permit in the pedimento before clearance, or without complying with any other non tariff measure is an infraction; except for vehicles the fine is 250 to 300 percent of the commercial value of the goods, the same range as for prohibited goods. Customs may seize the goods and the means of transport as a precaution, including for failures to meet commercial information NOMs. A broker who clears goods without the required permit, quota or measure risks cancellation of the license.
Cost to do it: Fine of 250 to 300 percent of commercial value; for vehicles MXN 7,520 to MXN 18,760 (2026 amounts, RGCE Annex 13).
Example: Toys worth MXN 925,130 imported without the NOM compliance required at the border: fine of MXN 2,312,825 to MXN 2,775,390. / Goods worth USD 50,000: fine of USD 125,000 to USD 150,000.Ley Aduanera, DOF 15 December 1995 (reform DOF 19 November 2025), Arts. 151, section II, 165, section II, b), 176, section II, and 178, section IV, 2025-11-19 official text · verified 2026-10-26

Measure	Who issues it	Where it is checked	Consequence if missing
Prior import or export permit	Ministry of Economy (alone or with the competent agency)	Electronic discharge in the pedimento before clearance	Fine 250 to 300 percent of value; seizure
Quota or tariff rate quota	Ministry of Economy, by tender or other published procedure	Pedimento, quota certificate	Duty at the out of quota rate or fine; seizure
NOM enforced at the border	Ministry of Economy determines which NOMs apply by tariff line	At clearance, with the compliance document	Fine 250 to 300 percent of value; seizure
Country of origin marking	Ministry of Economy	At clearance	Infraction under art. 176, section II
Health, plant, animal, environmental and security permits	Competent ministry or agency	At clearance	Fine 250 to 300 percent of value; seizure; broker license risk

Non tariff measures and their legal basis, verified 26 October 2026 against Ley de Comercio Exterior arts. 15 to 26 and Ley Aduanera arts. 151, 176 and 178.

Worked example

A US retailer's Mexican subsidiary imports children's toys worth MXN 925,130 (about USD 50,000). The tariff line is subject to a NOM that customs enforces at entry, so the compliance document must be declared in the pedimento.
If the shipment arrives without it, customs can seize the goods and the truck (Ley Aduanera art. 151, section II), and the fine is MXN 2,312,825 to MXN 2,775,390 (250 to 300 percent of value, art. 178, section IV), far above the duty at stake.
Planning the NOM certificate or the labeling route before the goods leave the US warehouse avoids the issue entirely.

Step by step

1. For each tariff line, check the Ministry of Economy agreements that list permits, quotas and NOMs enforced at the border, and any health, agriculture, environment or defense permits.
2. Apply for permits early; the legal maximum is 15 business days (LCE art. 21) but plan for longer.
3. For quotas, follow the DOF calls and tender calendars (LCE arts. 23 and 24).
4. Obtain the NOM compliance evidence or labeling required before shipping.
5. Give the broker all compliance documents before the declaration and check the permit discharge in the pedimento.
6. Track DOF changes: the 1 May 2026 reform widened the grounds for export measures.

Common traps

Treating a NOM as a paperwork detail. Missing compliance costs 250 to 300 percent of the goods' value, not a small fine (art. 178, section IV).
Using a permit beyond its term or quantity. Permits state term, value and quantity (LCE art. 21, section IV); excess goods are treated as without permit.
Forgetting that labeling NOMs also justify seizure. Failures to meet commercial information NOMs allow precautionary seizure (Ley Aduanera art. 151, section II).
Assuming exports are free of restrictions. Export measures exist for natural resources, endangered species, cultural goods and, since 2026, deforestation and labor grounds (LCE art. 15).

Sources

Related: Mexico country profile · live dashboard · central bank and release calendar · our posts on X · where Argentina is involved, see The Argentine Thread guide

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