What’s in a NOM?

Mexico’s compulsory safety standards are called NOMs (short for Norma Oficial Mexicana), or normas. The NOMs are numbered according to the activities and products they cover: NOM-003, NOM-192, etc. When seeking permission to manufacture, import or commercialize a product in Mexico, one must first obtain the relevant NOM certificate.

Recent changes in Mexican tariff rules have prompted questions about NOMs, even if there have been no changes to what these safety certificates cover. Below we take a quick look at some NOMs covering electronic equipment. Contact us for more information, including approval timelines, product testing, and need for samples (which vary from project to project).

NOM-003-SCFI-2014— covers electrical appliances. Required testing generally falls under NMX-J-508-ANCE-2010 or NMX-J-005-ANCE-2015. Products covered include: power strips, plugs, light switches and some fixtures, and limit switches. The type of product determines the labeling requirements.

NOM-024 — relates to packaging and labeling of products being imported into Mexico. We obtain a Constancia de Conformidad (Certificate of Conformity) to ensure the client’s packaging, labeling, user manual, and warranty (in Spanish) is in compliance with the regulation.

NOM-192 — establishes the specifications that television sets and decoders must comply with in order to be commercialized within Mexican territory

NOM-196 — applies to all terminal equipment that is connected or interconnected through wired access to a public telecommunications network. If such equipment is to manufactured, imported, commercialized, distributed and/or leased within Mexico, it must comply with the mechanical and electrical specifications, as well as the test methods, of the minimum technical parameters required in Technical Provision IFT-004-2016.

NOM-218 — applies to radio communication equipment that has a digital interface at 2 048 kbit/s and 34 368 kbit/s — also called E1 and E3, respectively. If such equipment is to be imported, commercialized and/or distributed within Mexico, it must comply with the minimum specifications, limits, testing parameters indicated in Technical Provision IFT-005-2016.

IFETEL Type Approval Certification

IFETEL (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones or the Mexican Federal Telecommunications Institute) regulates products using technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G/4G, or radio frequency. Equipment that connects to the PSTN, satellite, and other types of devices will also require IFETEL type approval (formerly COFETEL).

Testing of samples in Mexico is required for equipment utilizing the following frequency bands: 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, and 5725-5850 MHz. LARCG typically needs two samples (one radiate, one conducted) for IFETEL testing in Mexico. LARCG will assist with importation of the samples and arrange for testing of the equipment in Mexico. Modular and system approval may be possible depending on the characteristics of the equipment.

Mexico requires local representation as part of the approval process. LARCG can provide Cert Holder Services if you do not have a legal presence in Mexico.

IFETEL has frequency restrictions depending on the type of equipment. LARCG will help identify what technologies and frequencies are allowed for use in Mexico.

Products Requiring IFETEL Approval:

• Remote Controls
• Cellphones
• Thermostats
• Modems
• Paging RF
• Trackers
• Wireless Speakers

Common IFETEL Resolutions:

NOM-208-SCFI-2016: Latest resolution that will replace NOM-EM-016-SCFI-2015. Radiocommunication systems that use the radio spectrum to operate in the bands 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz y 5725-5850 MHz (IFT-008-2015 technical requirements).

NOM-088/1(2)-SCT1: Microwave devices that will provide the point-to-point (P-P) and point-to-multipoint (P-MP) FS systems services. Part 1: Multiple accesses. Part 2: Transport

NOM-084-SCT1: Technical specifications of the transmitter devices used for fleets mobile services.

IFT 008-2015: Specifies limits and testing methods for telecommunication equipment, and radio communication systems employing the technique of spread. What’s more, radio equipment spectrum for frequency jump and digital modulation to proceed in the bands: 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz and 5725-5850 MHz

IFT-011-2017: Requires a cell phone or tablet’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identifier) be affixed to a device, as well as requires manufacturers to unlock “FM” Functionality of the approved Mobile Terminal Equipment.

IFETEL has labeling requirements that apply and our project managers will assist you with marking the equipment correctly for importation to Mexico.

Current lead-time for IFETEL approval and certification is 9 weeks.

Safety

Customs authorities require NOM safety certificates of any imported product that has a battery charger, power supply, or adapter. Mexico requires product testing as part of the process of granting NOM safety certificates.

Common SAFETY Resolutions:

NOM-001-SCFI: Electronic devices using different energy sources

NOM-003-SCFI-2014: Electrical appliances. Required testing generally falls under NMX-J-508-ANCE-2010 or NMX-J-005-ANCE-2015. Products covered include: power strips, plugs, light switches and some fixtures, and limit switches. The type of product determines the labeling requirements.

NOM-016-SCFI: Office appliances

NOM-019-SCFI: Data processing or IT products

There are labeling requirements that apply for safety in Mexico.

Current lead-time for NOM Safety approval is 4 Weeks.