WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/MEX/2 
18 October 2006 
 (06-5023) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   Spanish 
  
 
REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT 
LICENSING PROCEDURES
1 
 
Notification under Articles 1.4(a), 8.2(b) and 7.3  
 
MEXICO 
   The following communication, dated 4 October 2006, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Mexico. 
 
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Outline of system
 
1. The import licensing system is based on the premis e that imports into the country are exempt 
from this requirement except for specific products that are subject to automatic and non-automatic 
import licensing.  The system is based on the Fore ign Trade Act and its Regulations, which are the 
basic legal texts governing Mexico's international trad e.  The list of products subject to licensing is 
established in ministerial agreements issued by the Ministry of the Economy, published in the Diario 
Oficial de la Federación (DOF) , the official journal of the Mexican Government, and represents less 
than 1 per cent of Mexico's tariff headings. 
 The prior licensing system is administered by  the Ministry of the Economy.  Licences are 
submitted for consideration to the Foreign Trade Commission (COCEX) of the Ministry of the Economy, which acts as a consultative inter-agenc y body for all entities of the Federal Public 
Administration in matters concerning trade policy formulation.
2  The COCEX is responsible for 
issuing non-binding opinions and recommendations on these matters, for which purpose it may also hold public consultations with interested parti es.  The rules on import licensing procedures are 
neutral, clear and easily applied and are administered properly and fairly. 
Purpose and coverage of licensing
 
2. The only automatic import licence or notice of importation was abolished on 
9 November 2005, leaving the automatic export licence as the only one in force. 
 The non-automatic import licensing system (prior licensing) is used by the Mexican 
Government in the import (and export) of sensitive goods to regulate trade in products in accordance 
with the provisions of the international treaties and agreements to which Mexico is party.  Other aims 
                                                      
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the questionnaire. 
2 The COCEX comprises representatives of the Central Bank, the Federal Competition Commission 
and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs;  Finance and Pu blic Credit;  Economy;  Energy;  Agriculture, Livestock, 
Rural Development, Fisheries and Food;  Environment a nd Natural Resources;  and Health.  Other federal or 
State agencies may be invited to participate in meetings  when COCEX is discussing specified sectoral issues 
within their areas of responsibility. G/LIC/N/3/MEX/2 
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  of the system include protection of morals, security  and law and order, the use of natural resources 
and the conservation of flora and fauna. 
3. The prior licensing regime is applied to produc ts from all countries on a most-favoured-nation 
basis, except where licences are administered  in accordance with preferential agreements. 
4. The prior licensing regime is not intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports.  Its aim 
is to regulate trade in specific products and pr otect consumers, health and the environment. 
5. The system of approval of licensed imports is governed by the Foreign Trade Act (Title IV, 
Chapter II, Section I, Article 20, and Section II,  Articles 21 and 22) and its Regulations (Title III, 
Chapter II), and the ministerial agreements setting out basic provisions for import licensing in Mexico 
and the products that require import licences.  Publi cation in the DOF of the tariff items subject to 
import licences, as required by the Foreign Tr ade Act, makes the system transparent. 
Procedures
 
6. I-XI.  Relevant information on the import licen sing regime, or periods of application and 
administrative procedures, are published by the Ministry of the Economy in the DOF.  The latter is available to any person, firm or institution. 
 In order to be processed, a licence application form
3 must be submitted to the Public Services 
counter at the Ministry's offices in the various  States.  The licensing procedure is as follows: 
I. Any natural or legal person seeking prior au thorization for import, export or modification 
must submit a duly substantiated application a nd attach the supplementary documentation in 
accordance with the instructions on the application. 
II. After review of the application and the suppl ementary documentation, by Ministry personnel, 
the information is recorded in the computer system (SICEX-PEXIM), which issues a printed 
record to be signed and kept by the appli cant as acknowledgement of the procedure.  
III. A receipt stamp and the application serial number generated by SICEX-PEXIM are printed on 
the front of the application (original and copies). 
IV. The application and the supplementary documen tation are then sent for review, either to the 
General Directorate of Heavy Industries a nd High Technology in the case of industrial 
products, or to the General Directorate of Basic Industries, in the case of agricultural products.  Once the review is complete, the Gene ral Directorate in question sends its decision 
to the relevant office of the Ministry of the Economy, using the same system. 
V. The decision document is issued through SICEX-PEXIM as follows:  Approval
:  The import (or export) licence is issued on security paper. 
 Refusal :  Issued on white paper where applications fail to meet the set criteria and 
requirements. 
VI. Once issued, the decision is sen t to the Public Services counter. 
                                                      
3 The form can be obtained from the General Dir ectorate of Foreign Trade, the Ministry of the 
Economy's offices in the various states or the web site of the Federal Regulatory Improvement Commission 
(COFEMER), at www.cofemer.gob.mx .  G/LIC/N/3/MEX/2 
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  VII. The decision is delivered to the applicant,  who signs a record sheet in acknowledgement of 
receipt.  If the decision document is a licence, it is sent electronically to the Ministry of 
Finance and Public Credit (SHCP). 
VIII. The procedure has been tota lly decentralized to the 52 offices of the Ministry of the Economy 
located throughout the country.  
7. Not applicable. 
8. An application for a licence may not be refused if it satisfies the criteria set out in the DOFs 
of 31 May 2006, 19 July 2001 (criteria applied by the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of the Economy for approval of the issue of prior import licences for liquefied petroleum gas) and 26 August 2003 (Agreement establishing criteria for th e issue of prior import licences to firms in the 
northern border region/strip engaged in the dismantli ng of used motor vehicles) and the amendments 
thereto of 22 November 2003 and 1 January 2004.  In the event of refusal, the interested party may apply to the Ministry of the Economy for review. 
Eligibility of importers to apply for a licence
 
9. All persons, firms and institutions are eligible to  apply for licences.  The Legal Affairs Unit of 
the Ministry of the Economy issues the "Proof of Accredited Identity". 
Documentational and other require ments for licence applications  
10. For the purposes of Article 7.VIII of the Law on Transparency and Access to Governmental 
Public Information, the form used to apply for an  import licence is a "Formato", bearing the Federal 
Register of Formalities and Services number SE-03- 057.  The application form for a licence, 
extension or modification contains the usual inform ation on the importer, and,  where appropriate, the 
technical specifications of the goods and the documentation identifying them.  The following 
documents must be submitte d with the application: 
• The original or a certified copy and an informal copy of the firm's articles of 
incorporation with the most recent amendments, if any; 
• simple power of attorney granted by the natural person or his legal representative 
before two witnesses, specifying authority to process and sign import (or export) licences, as the case may be; 
• for legal persons, the federal tax iden tification number (RFC) and RFC code 
('homoclave') (two copies).  For natural pers ons with a business activity, in addition, a 
copy of the RFC registration form; 
• in the case of vehicles, a copy of the ownership certificate or invoice or pro-forma 
invoice; 
• other documents, depending on the go ods to be imported or exported; 
11. No other documents are required. 
12. There are no processing fees. 
13. No deposits or advance payments are required for the issue of licences. G/LIC/N/3/MEX/2 
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  Conditions of licensing
 
14. Licences are valid for one year from the date of issue, unless the government body approving 
the licence indicates otherwise.  Extensions may be  requested, as long as the original licence has not 
expired and has the authorized remaining balance. 
15. There are no penalties for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence. 
16. Prior authorizations/licences are issued to the licensee and are non-transferable between 
importers.  They are issued on security paper for electronic download. 
17. There are no other conditions attach ed to the issuing of a licence. 
Other procedural requirements  
18. Imports are not subject to any administrative procedures other than those already described. 
19. There is no relation between the import licensi ng regime and the foreign exchange system. 
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