UNITED STATES-MEXICO 

HIGH-LEVEL REGULATORY 

COOPERATION COUNCIL 

WORK PLAN

February 28, 

2012
UNITED STATES-MEXICO High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council WORK Plan

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High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council

United States and Mexico Work Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BACKGROUND............................................................................................................................. 2

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION AND REGULATORY REVIEW OF PUBLIC 

COMMENTS...................................................................................................3

THE HLRCC WORK PLAN.......................................................................................................... 4

1) Food..................................................................................................................................... 5

a. Food Safety Modernization ........................................................................................... 5

b. E-Certification for Plants and Plant Products ............................................................ 6

2) Transportation: Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Procedures ........ 7

3) Nanotechnology.................................................................................................................. 8

4) E-Health.............................................................................................................................. 9

5) Offshore Oil and Gas Development Standards............................................................. 11

6) Cross-Sectoral Issue: Accreditation of Conformity Assessment Bodies..................... 12

MOVING FORWARD................................................................................................................. 15

1) Working Groups .............................................................................................................. 15

2) HLRCC Activities............................................................................................................ 16
UNITED STATES-MEXICO High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council WORK Plan

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WORK PLAN FOR THE

UNITED STATES AND MEXICO 

HIGH-LEVEL REGULATORY COOPERATION COUNCIL

BACKGROUND

On May 19, 2010, President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa and President Barack Obama

reaffirmed the strategic bilateral partnership between the United States and Mexico, and 

underscored each country’s commitment to significantly enhance the economic competitiveness 

and the economic well-being of both the United States and Mexico through improved regulatory 

cooperation.1 Regulatory cooperation can increase economic growth in each country; lower 

costs for consumers, businesses, producers, and governments; increase trade in goods and 

services across our borders; and improve our ability to protect the environment, health and safety 

of our citizens. President Calderón and President Obama therefore instructed the creation of the 

High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council (HLRCC), comprised of senior-level regulatory, 

trade, and foreign affairs officials from both countries. 

On March 3, 2011, Mexico and the United States outlined the mandate for the HLRCC in 

a Terms of Reference document.2 Taking into account that bilateral commerce between the 

United States and Mexico reaches more than a billion dollars daily,

3

the Terms of Reference 

tasked the HLRCC to create a Work Plan that identified areas of mutual interest for cooperation, 

taking appropriate account of the goals of the Council, both to facilitate intra-North American 

commerce and to enhance the competitiveness of North American producers in key export 

markets, with a special (but not exclusive) emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises, 

while enhancing our collective ability to achieve regulatory ends. 

In particular, the Terms of Reference instructed the HLRCC to identify sectors for 

cooperation in line with the following key principles: 

1) Making regulations more compatible, increasing simplification, and reducing burdens 

without compromising public health, public safety, environmental protection, or national 

security;

2) Increasing regulatory transparency to build national regulatory frameworks designed to 

achieve higher levels of competitiveness and to promote development;

 

1

Joint Statement from President Barack Obama and President Felipe Calderón, May 19, 2010, found at 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/joint-statement-president-barack-obama-and-president-felipe-calder-n. 

2 Terms of Reference for the High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council, March 3, 2011, found at 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/oira/irc/high-level_regulatory_cooperation_councilterms_of_reference_final.pdf.

3

Statistic from Ambassador Anthony Wayne, quoted in the article “Comercio México-EU supera los mil mdd 

diarios: Wayne,” published by El Universal.mx, December 1, 2011, found at 

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/813182.html.
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3) Simplifying regulatory requirements through public involvement; 

4) Improving and simplifying regulation by strengthening the analytic basis of regulations; 

5) Linking harmonization and regulatory simplification to improvements in border-crossing 

and custom procedures; and 

6) Increasing technical cooperation. 

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION AND REGULATORY REVIEW OF PUBLIC 

COMMENTS 

Both countries engaged in extensive consultation with stakeholders and the public in the 

course of development of the Work Plan. The U.S. Department of Commerce published a 

request for public comment in the Federal Register on March 3, 2011, inviting comment on 

possible areas of regulatory cooperation between the United States and Mexico.4The United 

States received 48 comments from the stakeholder community. Mexico also published a request 

for public comment on April 14, 2011.

5 Mexico received 252 comments from the stakeholder 

community. These comments served as a basis for a bilateral discussion within the HLRCC to 

identify potential sectors and actions for collaboration. 

The information gathered through the public consultations was reviewed by the 

corresponding regulatory bodies of each country. The main regulatory bodies involved from 

each country included the following:

 

4

Request for Public Comments Concerning Regulatory Cooperation Activities That Would Help Eliminate or 

Reduce Unnecessary Regulatory Divergences in North America That Disrupt U.S. Exports, 76 FR 11760 (published 

March 3, 2011) (comment period ended April 18, 2011).

5

Request for proposals related to the subject of regulatory cooperation within the framework of the North American

Free Trade Agreement with the purpose of eliminating or reducing unnecessary costs for enhancing external 

commerce and investment (“CONVOCATORIA para enviar propuestas en materia de cooperación regulatoria en el 

marco del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte con el fin de eliminar o reducir costos innecesarios para 

fomentar el comercio exterior y la inversion,” Diario Oficial de la Federación) (published April 14th, 2011) 

(comment period ended May 16th, 2011).
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U.S. Regulators Mexican Regulators

 Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS)

 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

 Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA)

 Department of Energy (DOE)

 Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA)

 Department of the Interior (DOI), 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental 

Enforcement (BSEE) and Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

 Department of Agriculture (USDA)

 Department of Transportation (DOT) 

 National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration (NHTSA)

 Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA)

 Ministry of Economy (SE)

 Federal Commission for the Protection 

of Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS)

 Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, 

Rural Development, Fishing and Food 

Supply (SAGARPA)

 Ministry of the Environment and 

National Resources (SEMARNAT)

 Ministry of Communications and 

Transports (SCT) 

 Ministry of Health (SSA)

 National Service for Health, Food 

Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA)

 National Metrology Center (CENAM)

 National Hydrocarbons Commission 

(CNH)

Given the time constraints that each government has for implementation of actions in the 

HLRCC, not all the proposals received during the public comment process could be incorporated 

in the initial Work Plan. Proposals that were not incorporated in the HLRCC Work Plan and that 

are trilateral in nature will be considered under the existing NAFTA Committees on Standard 

Related Measures (CSRM) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (CSPM), or any other 

deemed Committee. 

THE HLRCC WORK PLAN

The United States-Mexico Work Plan is an outline of the activities to be carried out by 

the HLRCC for a period of two years. It will be reviewed and modified as appropriate, on an 

annual basis. This Work Plan includes a balanced set of actions oriented to reduce 

administrative burdens, align regulations, and create new opportunities for businesses. These 

actions are ultimately focused on improving the overall economy of our countries, and improving

regional competitiveness. Nothing in this Work Plan is intended to give rise to rights or 

obligations under domestic or international law. 

The Work Plan focuses on seven sectoral issues in the following six areas: food, 

transportation, nanotechnology, e-health, oil and gas, and conformity assessment. Each section 

of the Work Plan contains a description of the issue, the objective / desired outcome, a list of 

specific deliverables and timeline, and an explanation of the benefits. In certain cases, 

deliverables are described as “accomplished.” This is because the two countries have been 
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working together on regulatory cooperation since 2010, and certain of the deliverables were 

completed in advance of the final publication of the Work Plan. 

1) Food 

a. Food Safety Modernization 

The first item on the HLRCC Work Plan involves food safety modernization. The 

relevant regulators are FDA and COFEPRIS. 

Description: The passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) set in motion sweeping 

improvements to the security and safety of the food supply in the United States. The legislation 

directs the U.S. FDA, working with a range of public and private partners, to build a new system 

of food safety oversight – one focused on applying, more comprehensively than ever, the best 

available science and good common sense to prevent the problems that can make people sick. 

Mexico is willing to cooperate with U.S. regulatory authorities with the objective of improving 

both countries’ food safety systems. Given the increasing integration of the agriculture and food 

sectors of Mexico and the United States, and the close collaboration among regulatory 

organizations in the two countries, developing common approaches to food safety requirements 

and policies will benefit consumers and the food industry on both sides of the border. 

Objective/Desired Outcome: The Council will intensify the present dialogue between the two 

countries aimed at implementing FSMA provisions of common interest. Mexico will have the 

opportunity to comment on U.S. FDA’s proposed rules pursuant to timelines set forth in the 

relevant U.S. Federal Register entries and WTO notifications so that Mexico can learn about and 

offer its perspectives on the proposed requirements. The Council will facilitate as needed 

Mexico’s participation in rulemaking, highlighting opportunities for involvement in 

policymaking, such as by meeting with OIRA and FDA to discuss proposed rules. 

Specific Deliverables and Timeline: Specific deliverables identified in the Work Plan include:

6

 Meeting between regulators to discuss the FSMA, and to consider Mexican views 

(accomplished in June 2011 with FDA FSMA outreach visit to Mexico);

 Consultation on draft FSMA capacity building plan with foreign government 

officials, which includes Mexican regulators (by December 2012);

 At least two technical assistance activities for the Mexican private sector (one by June 

2012, and one by December 2012); and

 Renew a Food Safety Cooperative Arrangement between FDA and Mexico’s Food 

Safety Agencies that will enhance cooperation on information exchanges and 

the development of joint safety programs (by December 2012). 

 

6 Timeline may be adjusted due to the timing of publication of the final implementing rules of the FSMA. 
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Why Should We Do This? 

1. Mexico is a major exporter and supplier of fresh and processed foods to the United 

States;

2. It is in the best interest of both countries to strengthen mutual collaboration to improve

the process of application of FSMA regulations in the areas of production, processing and 

handling of food that is exported or imported;

3. Timely understanding of FSMA requirements will help both government and industry 

implement them in a timely and seamless fashion, resulting in improved product safety 

with minimal or no disruption in supply or trade; and

4. The provision in FSMA for recognition of third parties, such as Mexican regulators,

offers the potential for expanding and streamlining trade in agricultural products. 

a. E-Certification for Plants and Plant Products 

The second item on the HLRCC Work Plan involves e-certification for plants and plant 

products. Relevant regulators are the U.S. Department of Agriculture/APHIS and SENASICA. 

Description: The United States and Mexico will work together to develop compatible electronic 

certificate programs such that phytosanitary e-certificates for plants and plant products from 

Mexico will be accepted by APHIS and other relevant authorities at the entry points, and 

phytosanitary e-certificates for plants and plant products from the United States will be accepted 

by SENASICA.7

Objective/Desired Outcome: The United States and Mexico will work together to develop 

compatible electronic Export and Import Certificate programs for plants and plant products under 

the HLRCC, which will involve reciprocal acceptance of e-certificates. For live animals and 

animal products, USDA continues to work toward implementing an e-certification system in the 

future. Once the plants and plant products phase is accomplished, both countries will assess next 

steps related to e-certification of live animals and animal products.

Specific Deliverables and Timeline: Specific deliverables identified in the Work Plan have 

estimated deadlines, given that the e-certificate’s website will be part of the Mexican Single 

Window for Foreign Trade (VMDCE) project. Thus, the HLRCC will coordinate the timing of 

the e-certification initiative with Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (Servicio de 

Administración Tributaria - SAT), which is in charge of the VMDCE. These include:

 System design (from January to March 2012);

 

7 While APHIS/Plant can meet the timetable, USDA will need to interface with the Customs and Border Protection 

(CBP) system before the benefits of e-certification can be fully realized. The CBP interface is under development. 

In the short term, paper copies of certificates and electronic messaging will be necessary to facilitate trade. 
UNITED STATES-MEXICO High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council WORK Plan

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 Integration of business rules and operating the software development (from February 

to April 2012);

 Computer development of modules (from March to July 2012); 

 Tests within the unit (from June to August 2012);

 Acceptance testing (from July to November 2012);

 System operation (by December 2012); and 

 Feedback for improvements to the modules (by December 2012).

Why Should We Do This?

1. A compatible electronic certification program will reduce the burden on U.S. and 

Mexican businesses, reducing and even eliminating certain administrative requirements;

2. A compatible electronic certification program will ensure that we maintain an appropriate 

protection of plant and plant products for shipments crossing our borders;

3. A compatible electronic certification program will support future development of a single 

entry point for compliance with customs and other government regulations; 

4. E-certificates modernize and streamline processes for trading agricultural products while 

maintaining safety and reliability; and

5. This initiative will improve the management of procedures related to certification as well 

as facilitate stakeholder compliance with regulations by reducing compliance time 

and lowering costs.

2) Transportation: Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Procedures 

The third item on the HLRCC Work Plan involves commercial motor vehicle safety 

standards and procedures. The relevant regulators are the U.S. Department of Transportation 

(DOT)/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Ministry of Communications 

and Transports (SCT). 

Description: At the border, there is strong interest in developing consistent and harmonized 

criteria for the assessment of the safety of trucks. While we currently have North American 

criteria in place to establish these measures, Mexico is in the process of revising and 

implementing its relevant safety standard, NOM 068, which governs mechanical and safety 

conditions for operating trucks on national roads and bridges. 
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Objective/Desired Outcome: The Council will facilitate a U.S.-Mexico dialogue so that Mexico’s 

revision of NOM 068 is in harmony with existing FMCSA rules, standards, and criteria, in order 

to minimize costs and eliminate any duplication.

Specific Deliverables and Timeline: Specific deliverables identified in the Work Plan include: 

 DOT-FMCSA will review the updated NOM 068 (trucking safety standards) as soon 

as it is submitted for public consultation, and provide comments related to ensuring

harmonization (by June 2012).

Why Should We Do This? 

1. Harmonization of commercial vehicle inspection regulations will improve the safety of 

our citizens by ensuring that all vehicles are inspected to a consistently high standard,

regardless of the vehicle’s country of origin;

2. The increased efficiency of commercial vehicle inspections realized as a result of 

harmonized commercial vehicle inspection regulations will facilitate trade in goods and 

services across our borders; 

3. Ensuring the compatibility of commercial vehicle inspection regulations will lower costs 

for motor carriers and consumers by simplifying the regulatory burden of compliance 

with U.S. and Mexican safety requirements; and

4. More than 60% of the value of Mexico’s exports to the United States is carried out by 

land transportation.8

3) Nanotechnology

The fourth item on the HLRCC Work Plan involves the potential alignment of U.S. and 

Mexican policy approaches to oversight of applications of nanotechnology and nanomaterials. 

The relevant agencies are the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and the 

National Metrology Centre (CENAM).

Description: Mexico and the United States are in the process of developing principles and 

approaches to inform government oversight and regulation of nanotechnology applications and 

nanomaterials. 

Objective/Desired Outcome: Share information and develop approaches on foundational 

regulatory elements, including terminology/nomenclature, information-gathering, and 

approaches to risk assessment and management. Develop initiatives to align regulatory 

approaches in specific areas, such that consistency exists for consumers and industry in Mexico 

and the United States.

 

8

INEGI, National Accounts, January to August 2011. 
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Specific Deliverables and Timeline: Specific deliverables identified in the Work Plan include: 

 The United States will share with Mexico the list of regulators that were involved in 

the development of the general nanotechnology principles (accomplished by 

September 2011);

 Response of Mexico’s relevant regulators to the U.S. Memorandum on “Policy 

Principles for the U.S. Decision-making Concerning Regulation and Oversight of 

Applications of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials,” of June 9, 2011 (accomplished 

by October 2011);

 Creation of a mechanism for exchanging information between the United States and 

Mexico on regulatory matters for nanotechnology applications and nanomaterials 

(accomplished by February 2012);

 Share the advances of the Mexican side on potential principles on regulations for 

nanotechnology applications and nanomaterials (accomplished by February 2012);

and 

 Engage in a dialogue to consider a possible model framework providing key elements 

and approaches to regulating nanotechnology applications and nanomaterials with 

respect to potential impacts on the environment, human health, labor, food or 

agriculture (by February 2013).

Why Should We Do This? 

1. Ensuring that the United States and Mexico share information regarding each other’s 

respective regulatory approaches to nanotechnology applications and nanomaterials at an 

early stage will be critical in reducing risks to environmental and human health while 

fostering innovation;

2. Considering a joint framework to align regulatory approaches will ensure consistency for 

consumers and industry within and between both countries; and 

3. Consistency in a regulatory approach in this area will facilitate responsible manufacturing 

and trading of products between the two countries, and will foster the competitiveness of

the industry.

4) E-Health

The fifth item on the HLRCC Work Plan involves electronic health record (EHR) 

certification. Relevant regulators are the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

(HHS)/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and 

Mexico’s Ministry of Health (SSA). 
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Description: HHS and its ONC have implemented an EHR certification program for purposes of 

testing and certifying health information technology (HIT) according to the standards, 

implementation specifications, and certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of HHS. The 

goal of this program is to enhance the interoperability, functionality, utility, and security of HIT 

and to support its meaningful use. In September 2010 in Mexico, the Ministry of Health 

approved and published the Mexican Official Regulation NOM-024-SSA3-2010, which 

establishes the objectives and functional features of EHRs to ensure the interoperability, 

processing, interpretation, confidentiality, security and use of EHR standards and catalogs. 

DGIS (Health Information General Direction of Health Ministry) started the evaluation process 

of EHR Systems in May 2011 at the request of any interested vendor. ONC and DGIS wish to 

further explore the certification rules and processes implemented in each country, as well as 

approaches to harmonizing common vocabularies and code sets.

Objective/Desired Outcome: First, the countries will share best practices on EHR certification 

programs. This will entail ONC sharing its EHR certification process lessons learned with 

Mexico, to help inform and enhance their policymaking as they seek to modify NOM-024-SSA3-

2010. Second, both countries will discuss and analyze their interoperability standards portfolios. 

This work will allow both countries to better understand experiences to date, including best 

practices and policy challenges, for promoting and establishing interoperability requirements for 

electronic health information exchange. Both countries will, to the extent practicable, attempt to 

determine whether and how such standards could be incorporated into regulatory policy. Third, 

according to existing international standards and the particular needs of each country, the 

countries will seek to establish a core framework of vocabularies for use in EHR technology. 

This action aims to support the harmonization of standardized vocabularies in order for 

translations to be accurately and appropriately mapped to the correct code set. At a later stage, 

both countries will evaluate the possibility of developing a “Guide of Compatibility” between 

modified versions of ONC’s standards and certification regulations and NOM-024-SSA3-2010 

Evaluation in Mexico.

Specific Deliverables and Timeline: Specific deliverables identified in the Work Plan include:

 Presentation of available Certification Processes, Educational Material inventory and 

core vocabularies in both countries (by March 2012);

 Communication with staff in both countries regarding education materials related to 

EHR certification and e-Health workforce curriculum development (by March 2012);

 Solicit formal comment from Mexico on ONC’s proposed EHR standards and 

certification criteria regulation (April/May 2012);

 Define and publish core vocabularies for EHRs in both countries (by October 2012); 

 Translation of NOM-024-SSA3-2010 and its modifications to English (by October 

2012); and
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 Benchmark and develop a gap analysis for EHR standards and certification criteria 

requirements in both countries (by December 2012).

Why Should We Do This?

1. Increased cooperation between U.S. and Mexican regulators on EHR certification 

requirements could improve the competitiveness of U.S. health IT companies 

internationally, and the United States has a more mature EHR certification approach, 

which positions the United States to share best practices with Mexican officials; 

2. Regulatory cooperation regarding harmonized interoperability requirements could benefit 

the regulated communities in each country and could result in decreased overall 

development costs for those health IT companies that seek to compete at an international 

level;

3. Early and proactive efforts between the United States and Mexico to establish regulatory 

cooperation in these areas would form a foundation on which additional cooperative 

efforts could be built;

4. The Guide of Compatibility will reduce the cost and time required to implement 

electronic health record systems developed for the United States or Mexico in the other 

country, and will therefore increase the number of certified systems available for health 

institutions;

5. The best practices and educational material shared between agencies, along with a larger 

number of certified systems, will accelerate the investment, adoption and proper use of 

health information technology in both countries; and

6. Harmonized vocabularies and similar certification processes will prepare the foundations 

for international interoperability, which in the future can facilitate the exchange of public 

health information and achieve faster response to epidemiologic outbreaks. 

5) Offshore Oil and Gas Development Standards 

The sixth item on the HLRCC Work Plan involves oil and gas drilling standards. 

Relevant regulators are the U.S. Department of the Interior/Bureau of Safety and Environmental 

Enforcement (BSEE), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and Mexico’s 

National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH). 

Description: Mexico and the United States border the Gulf of Mexico. This means that the 

exploration and drilling activities that take place in this body of water present risks for both

countries, and both countries would benefit from a common set of drilling standards. While 

different institutional models, regulations and laws bind each country, U.S. and Mexican 

regulators are open-minded and would like to develop a set of harmonized standards related to 

the exploration and production of oil resources and well control and containment standards, 

including requirements for sharing worst-case discharge and spill response plans. Although the 

harmonization is intended as a long-term goal, there have been short-term successes; the first 
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product of this common philosophy is that Mexico will incorporate standards according to the 

American Petroleum Institute Offshore Recommended Practices that apply to operators working 

in the United States.

On February 19, the two countries signed the Agreement Between the United Mexican States 

and the United States of America Concerning Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the 

Gulf of Mexico (“Agreement”) to govern transboundary reservoirs underlying the Outer 

Continental Shelf maritime boundary in the Gulf of Mexico. The Agreement includes a 

commitment, in Article 19, by both parties to adopt, where appropriate, common health, safety 

and environmental standards and requirements applicable to activity contemplated under the 

Agreement within the transboundary area. In addition, there are discussions between the two 

countries happening now, with both countries working to identify elements of a common 

approach for the entire Gulf of Mexico.

Objective/Desired Outcome: The Council will build on the current work being done in this area 

to facilitate strategic approaches to offshore oil and gas development. The long-term goal is to 

develop, to the extent possible, harmonized standards. The Council will encourage consideration 

of a range of options, including performance-based standards, to move the agenda forward.

Specific Deliverables and Timeline: Specific deliverables identified in the Work Plan include: 

 Development of a framework document to set a common philosophy, promote 

harmonization and define the scope of activities (e.g., use of common standards for 

offshore drilling well control and containment, information sharing expectations for 

Mexican and U.S. regulators, incorporation and application of industry best practices, 

and evaluation of whether to include a memorandum of understanding, and if so, the 

form and content). The framework document will identify both short-term and longterm deliverables (by April 2012); and

 Promoting a dialogue about how to reform existing regulations to harmonize them (by 

December 2012).

Why Should We Do This? 

1. To minimize risks in oil and gas exploration, production activities, and drilling;

2. To ensure coordinated actions of both sides through a common approach to managing 

contingencies in the whole area of the Gulf of Mexico; and

3. To ensure that both countries have the capacity to respond to an event, utilizing shared 

knowledge of the most efficient and effective well control and containment procedures.

6) Cross-Sectoral Issue: Accreditation of Conformity Assessment Bodies 

The seventh item on the HLRCC Work Plan involves the accreditation of conformity 

assessment bodies. Relevant regulators are the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 
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(OSHA) and the Ministry of Economy (SE). Currently, Mexico has accredited three U.S. 

laboratories for purposes of performing safety testing of certain products that are sold or used in 

Mexico. These three U.S. laboratories are also recognized as Nationally Recognized Testing 

Laboratories (NRTLs) by OSHA. However, no Mexican laboratory has been accredited for 

purposes of performing safety testing of products that are sold or used in the United States, 

which is a concern for Mexico. OSHA is the agency that accredits laboratories to test products 

used in U.S. workplaces. 

Unlike the other sectors, which consist primarily of bilateral activities intended to align 

regulatory requirements or to share information, this sector primarily involves submissions by 

Mexican entities seeking to comply with the U.S. regulator’s requirements. The substantive 

activities in this sector are done individually by the specific entities and not as a workgroup.

Description: OSHA will help Mexican laboratories that are interested in obtaining NRTL 

recognition understand OSHA’s requirements and process for laboratory recognition under the 

NRTL Program. The Ministry of Economy (i.e., SE) will facilitate this process by coordinating 

and participating in any necessary meetings or teleconferences between Mexican laboratories 

and OSHA. Secretaria de Economia will also help U.S. laboratories and agencies understand 

Mexico’s requirements and process for laboratory recognition so that more of them may become 

recognized.

Objective/Desired Outcome: Interested Mexican laboratories are recognized as NRTLs by 

OSHA. Interested U.S. laboratories are accredited or otherwise recognized by Mexican 

authorities to conduct testing, certification and other conformity assessment procedures that are 

necessary for companies to demonstrate compliance with Mexican requirements.

Specific Deliverables and Timeline: Specific deliverables identified in the Work Plan include: 

 OSHA presents its application guidelines to Mexican laboratories with emphasis in 

(a) problematic areas detected by OSHA in previous authorizations, and (b) 

independence (accomplished by September 2011);

 OSHA has a call with all of the laboratories, or with each laboratory, to discuss their 

independence. Before the call, the laboratories provide information that OSHA 

requests regarding each laboratory’s ownership, and governing and control structure. 

During the call, OSHA discusses the information with the laboratories and notes any 

serious issues that appear to exist with regard to the laboratory meeting OSHA’s 

NRTL independence requirement. If needed, OSHA may request additional 

information related to independence and have an additional call with the laboratories 

to further clarify any issues;

 OSHA has a call with each laboratory to discuss its current technical operations and 

procedures. Before or during the call, each laboratory provides certain information 

requested by OSHA. OSHA makes no determination on the adequacy or 

acceptability of the laboratory’s operations or procedures, but will provide informal 

comments on areas where the laboratory appears to lack procedures and/or technical
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capabilities to meet OSHA’s NRTL requirements. These comments will not bind 

OSHA regarding any future determination during its formal NRTL application review 

process;

 If needed, OSHA has additional calls with any laboratory that has further questions;

 Mexico has a call or meeting with interested U.S. laboratories and agencies to present 

Mexico’s requirements and processes for laboratory recognition and provides those 

requirements and processes in writing;

 Mexican laboratories determine whether they will apply and formally submit their 

applications and application fees. Each laboratory must ensure that it submits to 

OSHA information requested in the guidelines pertaining to the lab’s independence;

 OSHA processes NRTL applications in the order that OSHA receives them. Unless 

delayed due to factors beyond OSHA’s control, within 30 days of receiving an 

application, OSHA performs a limited review of the application to determine if 

OSHA can proceed with a full review or if OSHA must return the application;

 OSHA has a call with each laboratory to discuss the findings of the limited review. If 

OSHA finds that any application is substantially incomplete or inadequate, it returns 

the application within one month after completing the limited review;

 If OSHA finds sufficient information for a full review, it commences a detailed 

review, beginning with the independence review;

 OSHA completes a detailed review of independence, and contacts each laboratory to 

discuss OSHA’s findings on the laboratory’s ability to meet OSHA’s independence 

requirement. OSHA requests additional information, if needed. If a laboratory meets 

the independence requirement, OSHA informs the laboratory and schedules the 

technical review of the remainder of the application. If a laboratory does not meet the 

requirement, OSHA provides written notification to the laboratory and an opportunity 

to rebut OSHA’s determination; 

 If any laboratory has independence issues, OSHA and the laboratory communicate to 

try to resolve the issues; 

 Each laboratory formally submits its response to any OSHA notification regarding 

lack of independence. The laboratory then has one more opportunity to resolve any 

issues if the first response does not adequately resolve the issue. If the issue cannot 

be resolved, OSHA rejects the application; and

 If a laboratory has no independence issues, or resolves these issues, OSHA completes 

the technical review and contacts the laboratory to discuss the findings.
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OSHA will complete the remainder of the application process as described in OSHA’s 

current NRTL Program Directive, dated December 2, 1999, beginning at paragraph II.C of 

Chapter 2 through the end of Chapter 5. 

The above deliverables consist of the usual activities that OSHA must perform prior to, 

and following receipt of, an application by any laboratory seeking recognition under OSHA’s 

NRTL Program. After receiving an application, OSHA periodically provides a report to each 

NRTL applicant to describe the current status of its application, the upcoming next step of the 

application process, and the estimated target date for commencing or completing this next step. 

These target dates for particular OSHA activities are subject to change due to the program’s 

workload and priorities, as well as other factors.

Why Should We Do This? 

1. The United States wants to address Mexico’s concern, although it makes no guarantee on 

the outcome of the OSHA process; 

2. The United States wants to make Mexico’s system more transparent for other U.S. 

laboratories that may have interest in obtaining accreditation by Mexico; and 

3. This initiative increases the Mexican laboratories’ and Mexican government’s 

understanding of the OSHA NRTL Program’s application process and technical 

requirements, which may facilitate their decision regarding the elements they must adopt 

to comply with particular parts of the process and requirements.

MOVING FORWARD 

The United States and Mexico will implement the HLRCC Work Plan through bilateral 

regulatory-agency-led working groups. Initiatives and deliverables outlined in the Work Plan 

will be carried out by lead departments and relevant agencies in the United States and Mexico. 

1) Working Groups

Working groups, either already established or to be established, will be responsible for

implementing all HLRCC Work Plan items. Led by senior officials from the primary regulatory 

departments with representatives from other relevant agencies or groups, the working groups will 

focus on achieving tangible and practicable deliverables throughout the duration of their work. 

Stakeholder engagement will occur in a broad context, in part by seeking input from 

sectoral stakeholders during select HLRCC meetings. Working groups will be responsible for 

ensuring appropriate and adequate stakeholder engagement on issues within their purview. In 

addition, the normal consultative process will be used should any regulation or rule-making 

occur. 
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In developing solutions, working groups will be expected to identify mechanisms not 

only to alleviate current issues, but also to foster ongoing alignment and prevent future 

unnecessary differences from occurring. 

Working groups will provide periodic updates on their progress. 

2) HLRCC Activities

Meetings of the HLRCC will be held quarterly to review and discuss progress of the 

working groups. Stakeholder engagement sessions will be held as part of these meetings twice 

per year, and results of the HLRCC work will be made public on a regular basis. 

The HLRCC will provide a public midterm report one year from publication of this Work 

Plan on progress to leaders on these initiatives. 

The HLRCC will closely monitor the working groups and will undertake to resolve 

challenges facing the working groups. 

The United States and Mexico have an opportunity to take advantage of their highly 

integrated economies, further strengthening their trade relationship and increasing reliance on 

each other’s regulatory outcomes. Given compatible regulatory objectives and procedures for 

achieving them, it should not be necessary to do everything twice. Most importantly, this 

HLRCC Work Plan will provide examples upon which new approaches can be developed on a 

broader range of sectors and initiatives in the future. Together, we can work towards a better 

aligned regulatory system that benefits citizens and businesses on both sides of the border. 

This HLRCC Work Plan represents an important step along the path to enhanced 

regulatory cooperation between the United States and Mexico.