MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF 

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 

UNITED MEXICAN STATES FOR CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT OF 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT 

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE 

GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES (referred to in this Agreement 

collectively as “Parties” and individually as “Party”); 

RECALLING that Article 1304(6) of the North American Free Trade Agreement

(“NAFTA”) requires each NAFTA Party to “adopt, as part of its conformity assessment 

procedures, provisions necessary to accept the test results from laboratories or testing 

facilities in the territory of another Party for tests performed in accordance with the 

accepting Party’s standards-related measures and procedures;” 

FURTHER RECALLING that Article 908(6) of the NAFTA encourages NAFTA Parties

to negotiate agreements for the mutual recognition of results of conformity assessment; 

and 

REAFFIRMING the commitment the Parties made in Annex 913.5.a-2 of the NAFTA to 

work through the NAFTA Telecommunications Standards Subcommittee (“TSSC”) to 

develop a work program, including a timetable, for making compatible to the greatest 

extent practicable, the standards-related measures of the NAFTA Parties, including 

technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, for authorized 

telecommunications equipment; 

HAVE AGREED as follows: 
ARTICLE 1 

Purpose of the Agreement 

1. This Agreement is intended to streamline conformity assessment for a wide range 

of telecommunications and telecommunications-related equipment and thereby to 

facilitate trade between the Parties. This Agreement provides for the mutual 

recognition by the Parties of testing laboratories and mutual acceptance of the 

results of testing undertaken by recognized testing laboratories in assessing 

conformity of equipment to a Party’s technical regulations. 

2. For greater clarity, this Agreement shall not cover conformity assessment related 

to the electrical safety of telecommunications equipment. 

3. This Agreement shall not cover homologation, which may be required by either 

Party outside of the context of the procedures set forth in this Agreement. 

ARTICLE 2 

Definitions 

General terms associated with test reports and conformity assessment used in this 

Agreement shall have the meaning given to those terms in ISO/IEC 17000:2004, 

Conformity assessment – Vocabulary and general principles, of the International 

Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission. In 

addition, for the purpose of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply: 

administrative arrangements means any publicly available procedures or permission or 

legal or contractual agreements within a Party’s jurisdiction that have an impact on 

conformity assessment of telecommunications equipment within the scope of this 

Agreement, as described in Article 3; 

designation means the act by a designating authority of designating a testing laboratory 

to assess whether telecommunications equipments conforms to a Party’s technical 

regulations; 

homologation means permission for a product, process, or service to be marketed or used 

for stated purposes or under stated conditions; 

public telecommunications network means public telecommunications infrastructure that 

permits telecommunications between defined network termination points; 

recognition means the act by a regulatory authority of recognizing that a testing 

laboratory is competent to perform conformity assessment and that test reports will be 

accepted from that testing laboratory; 

regulatory authority means a government agency or entity that exercises a legal right to 

control the use or sale of telecommunications equipment within a Party’s territory and 
that may take enforcement action to ensure that products marketed within the Party’s 

territory comply with the Party’s legal requirements; 

technical regulations means those technical requirements, legislative and regulatory 

provisions, and administrative arrangements that a Party has specified in Annex I 

pertaining to the testing of equipment with respect to which compliance is mandatory. 

For greater clarity, the Parties do not intend this definition to apply for any purpose other 

than this Agreement. The listing by a Party of technical regulations in Annex I is without 

prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Party under any other agreement; 

testing laboratory means a laboratory that performs tests. In addition: 

 first-party testing laboratory means a testing laboratory that performs first-party 

conformity assessment activity, as defined in ISO/IEC 17000:2004; 

 second-party testing laboratory means a testing laboratory that performs secondparty conformity assessment activity, as defined in ISO/IEC 17000:2004; 

 third-party testing laboratory means a testing laboratory that performs third-party 

conformity assessment activity, as defined in ISO/IEC 17000:2004. 

In the event of any inconsistency between a definition in ISO/IEC 17000:2004 and a 

definition in this Agreement, the definition in this Agreement shall prevail. 

ARTICLE 3 

Scope 

1. Technical Regulations: This Agreement applies to those technical regulations a 

Party lists in Annex I, namely the technical regulations for which the Party shall 

accept test reports from recognized testing laboratories designated by the other 

Party. The technical regulations that a Party lists shall address equipment that 

may be attached to a public telecommunications network or other equipment 

subject to telecommunications regulation, including wire and wireless equipment, 

and terrestrial and satellite equipment, whether or not connected to a public 

telecommunication network. Where network terminal attachment or other 

telecommunications regulation pertains, the Agreement applies to the technical 

regulations listed by each Party in Annex I concerning conformity assessment, 

including electromagnetic compatibility. 

2. Equipment: This Agreement applies to conformity assessment of equipment that 

may be attached to a public telecommunications network and other equipment 

subject to telecommunications regulation, including wire and wireless equipment, 

and terrestrial and satellite equipment, whether or not connected to a public 

telecommunications network. Equipment which can only be connected behind 

devices providing adequate network protection for a public telecommunications 
network may be excluded by either Party from the scope of testing it applies to 

network terminal attachment. 

3. This Agreement shall not be interpreted as acceptance by one Party of the 

standards or technical regulations of the other Party, or as mutual recognition of 

the equivalence of the Parties’ standards or technical regulations. 

ARTICLE 4 

Designating Authorities, Regulatory Authorities, and Accreditation Bodies 

1. Each Party shall ensure that its designating authorities have the authority and 

competence to designate, list, verify the compliance of, limit the designation of, 

and withdraw the designation of testing laboratories within their jurisdictions. 

Each Party also shall ensure that its regulatory authorities have the authority and 

competence to recognize testing laboratories that the other Party designates for 

recognition under this Agreement. 

2. Each Party’s designating authorities shall take such measures as necessary to 

ensure that testing laboratories they have designated maintain the required 

technical competence to perform the testing for which they have been designated. 

3. Any designating authority of a Party also may appoint an accreditation body to 

accredit testing laboratories while maintaining full responsibility as a designating 

authority under this Agreement. 

4. Each Party shall list, in Annex II, its designating authorities, regulatory 

authorities, and accreditation bodies. 

ARTICLE 5 

Designation of Testing Laboratories 

1. Each designating authority listed in Annex II may designate testing laboratories to 

test whether equipment conforms to the other Party’s technical regulations. 

2. A designating authority may only designate testing laboratories able to 

demonstrate by means of accreditation, in accordance with the requirements and 

procedures set forth in Appendix A, that the testing laboratories have the 

experience and are competent to test whether equipment conforms to the other 

Party’s technical regulations, including familiarity with interpretations and 

policies related to the other Party’s technical regulations. 

3. In making such a designation, a designating authority shall observe the procedures 

set forth in Appendix B. 
ARTICLE 6 

Recognition of Testing Laboratories 

Each Party shall, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Appendix B, recognize 

testing laboratories designated by the designating authorities of the other Party. 

ARTICLE 7 

Mutual Acceptance of Test Reports 

Each Party shall, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Appendix B, accept a test 

report provided by a recognized testing laboratory designated by the other Party under 

terms and conditions no less favorable than those it accords to test reports produced by 

testing laboratories in its territory, and without regard to the nationality of the supplier or 

manufacturer of the equipment, or the country of origin of the equipment for which a test 

report has been produced. 

ARTICLE 8 

Suspension of Recognition of Testing Laboratories or 

Acceptance of Test Reports 

1. A Party may, in accordance with the requirements and procedures set forth in 

paragraph 3, suspend its recognition of a designated testing laboratory. 

2. A Party may, in accordance with the requirements and procedures set forth in 

paragraph 3, suspend its acceptance of test reports provided by a recognized 

testing laboratory. 

3. A Party that intends to suspend recognition of a testing laboratory or acceptance 

of test reports shall provide written notice to the other Party 60 days before the 

suspension takes effect. The written notice shall provide the reasons for the 

suspension. Examples of reasons for suspension include the following: 

(a) the suspending Party has lost confidence in a designating authority of the 

other Party or in the relevant testing laboratory; 

(b) the suspending Party no longer perceives mutual benefits in terms of the 

facilitation of trade in the equipment within the scope of this Agreement; 

or 

(c) the suspending Party is dissatisfied with the protection by the other Party 

of confidential information. 

4. The suspending Party may resume recognition of a designated testing laboratory 

or acceptance of test reports at any time. 
ARTICLE 9 

Reassessment and Surveillance of Testing Laboratories 

1. Each Party shall provide to the other Party the reassessment and surveillance plans 

designed, in accordance with Clause 7.11.3 of ISO/IEC 17011:2004, Conformity 

assessment – General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting 

conformity assessment bodies, of the International Organization for 

Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission, by its 

designating authorities and accreditation bodies to ensure the continued technical 

competence of designated testing laboratories. 

2. Each Party shall inform the other Party of all measures taken by its designating 

authorities and accreditation bodies based on the results of reassessment and 

surveillance activities regarding the continuation or renewal of accreditation of 

recognized testing laboratories. Likewise, each Party shall inform the other Party 

of any measures taken by its accreditation bodies regarding suspension, 

withdrawal, or reduction of the relevant scope of accreditation of recognized 

testing laboratories. 

3. On request, each Party shall provide to the other Party a valid scope and 

certificate of accreditation for a designated testing laboratory, as well as the 

documentation described in Appendix B, section I, paragraph 4. If, at any time, a 

Party fails to make available to the requesting Party a valid scope and certificate 

of accreditation for a testing laboratory that it has designated, the requesting Party 

may withdraw its recognition of that designated testing laboratory. 

4. On request, each Party, through its own designating authorities or accreditation 

bodies, shall endeavor to facilitate the observation of the assessment of a testing 

laboratory by representatives of the other Party. All costs incurred for such 

activities shall be the responsibility of the Party requesting to witness the 

assessment. 

ARTICLE 10 

Verification of Designated Testing Laboratories 

1. Each Party shall have the right to challenge the technical competence of a testing 

laboratory designated by the other Party and whether the testing laboratory meets 

the requirements for accreditation set forth in Appendix A. This right shall be 

exercised under exceptional circumstances only. 

2. A Party may invoke its right to challenge by providing written notice to the testing 

laboratory concerned, the relevant designating authority and accreditation body, 

and the other Party. The notice shall include an objective and reasoned written 

description of the basis for the challenge, including a description of the available 

evidence and findings supporting the challenge. The Party shall provide the 

recipients of the notice no fewer than 60 days after the date on which the notice is 
provided to present information responding to or correcting any deficiencies that 

form the basis for the challenge. 

3. Where verification of a testing laboratory’s technical competence or its 

conformity with the requirements for accreditation set forth in Appendix A is 

required to resolve the challenge, the verification shall be carried out in a timely 

manner jointly by the Parties with the participation of the relevant designating 

authority and accreditation body. 

4. Each Party shall ensure that its testing laboratories are available for verification of 

their technical competence and their conformity with the requirements for 

accreditation set forth in Appendix A. 

5. The Parties and the relevant designating authority shall jointly discuss with the 

relevant accreditation body and the testing laboratory concerned the results of any 

verification with a view to resolving the challenge as soon as possible. Where, 

after verification, the challenging Party finds that the testing laboratory does not 

meet the requirements for accreditation set forth in Appendix A, it shall give 

prompt notice to the testing laboratory concerned, to the relevant designating 

authority and accreditation body, and to the other Party. The challenging Party 

shall provide the recipients of the notice no fewer than 60 days after the date they 

receive the notice to present information responding to the findings of the 

verification or correcting any deficiencies identified as a result of the verification.

6. Where, as a result of a verification and taking into account any information 

provided by the testing laboratory concerned, the relevant designating authority 

and accreditation body, and the other Party, the challenging Party intends to 

withdraw or limit to certain technical regulations its recognition of the testing 

laboratory, the challenging Party shall provide 60 days advance notice of its 

intent, including a written explanation of its reasons, to the testing laboratory 

concerned, to the relevant designating authority and accreditation body, and to the 

other Party. 

7. When a Party withdraws or limits to certain technical regulations its recognition 

of a testing laboratory, that Party shall continue to accept test reports provided by 

the testing laboratory prior to the withdrawal or limitation, unless that Party has 

good cause for not accepting such results, in which case the Party shall provide a 

written explanation of the reason for not accepting such results to the testing 

laboratory concerned, to the relevant designating authority and accreditation body, 

and to the other Party. 

8. With the consent of both Parties and of the relevant designating authority and 

accreditation body, matters relating to the conformity of the testing laboratory 

with the requirements for accreditation set forth in Appendix A may be referred to 

a review process recognized by the Parties, or to a subcommittee of the Joint 

Committee for evaluation and assistance in resolution of technical issues. 
9. A withdrawal or limitation of recognition shall remain in effect until the Parties 

jointly decide on the future status of the testing laboratory. 

ARTICLE 11 

Information Exchange 

1. Each Party shall maintain in Annex I a list of its relevant telecommunications 

laws and technical regulations. If it is necessary to interpret a Party’s relevant 

telecommunications laws and technical regulations, the interpreter shall use a 

version of the relevant telecommunications law or technical regulation that is in 

an official language of the Party. 

2. Within 60 days after a Party adopts a new relevant telecommunications law or 

technical regulation, or an amendment to an existing relevant telecommunications 

law or technical regulation, the Party shall amend its list in Annex I, as 

appropriate. 

3. The Parties shall consult as necessary in order to maintain their confidence in the 

mutual recognition of testing results and to ensure that the Parties satisfactorily 

address any concerns either Party may have about the other Party’s 

telecommunications laws or technical regulations. 

4. Each Party shall promptly provide written notice to the other Party of any changes 

to its list of designating authorities, regulatory authorities, and accreditation 

bodies (Annex II), list of designated testing laboratories (Annex III), or list of 

recognized testing laboratories (Annex IV). 

5. No later than 30 days from the date this Agreement enters into force, each Party 

shall notify the other Party in writing of the contact persons to be responsible for 

activities under this Agreement. Each Party shall inform the other Party whenever 

the contact persons responsible for activities under this Agreement may change. 

6. Each Party shall provide the other Party, at its request, technical advice, 

information, and assistance on mutually agreed terms and conditions concerning 

the Party’s technical regulations, standards, conformity assessment procedures, 

testing laboratories, accreditation, metrology, and any other subject within the 

scope of this Agreement. 

ARTICLE 12 

Joint Committee 

1. The Parties hereby establish a Joint Committee, consisting of one or more 

representatives of each Party. The Joint Committee shall be co-chaired by a 

representative of each Party. 
2. The Joint Committee shall determine its own rules of procedure. The Joint 

Committee shall take decisions by agreement of its co-chairs. 

3. The Joint Committee shall convene at the request of either Party. The Joint 

Committee may convene in conjunction or in cooperation with the NAFTA TSSC. 

4. The Joint Committee shall establish appropriate channels, including relevant 

contact points, for the Parties to exchange information as provided in Article 11. 

5. The Joint Committee may consider any matter related to the operation of this 

Agreement. 

6. A Party may bring any question or concern it may have regarding the 

interpretation or application of this Agreement to the Joint Committee, which 

shall seek to answer the question or resolve the concern. 

7. The Joint Committee shall periodically assess the need to update references in this 

Agreement to international standards and guides. 

ARTICLE 13 

Additional Provisions 

1. Each Party shall endeavor to use international standards, or the relevant parts of 

international standards, as the basis for its technical regulations, where applicable 

international standards exist or when their completion is imminent, except when 

such international standards or relevant parts would be ineffective or 

inappropriate. International standards or their relevant parts may be ineffective or 

inappropriate, for example, in light of fundamental climatic or geographic 

considerations or fundamental technical problems. 

2. Each Party may specify the language in which test reports, equipment 

certifications, notices of designation and recognition, and other pertinent 

documents shall be submitted. Each Party may issue technical regulations in the 

language of its choice. 

3. The Parties shall endeavor to harmonize their designation and conformity 

assessment procedures. In order to do so, the Parties shall facilitate cooperation 

between their designating authorities and testing laboratories, including their 

participation in coordination meetings, mutual recognition agreements, and 

working group meetings. 
ARTICLE 14 

Confidentiality 

1. Neither Party may require a designating authority, accreditation body, or testing 

laboratory of the other Party to disclose to it a supplier’s proprietary information 

except where necessary to demonstrate conformity with the Party’s technical 

regulations. 

2. Each Party, in accordance with its applicable domestic laws, shall protect the 

confidentiality of any proprietary information disclosed to it by a designating 

authority, accreditation body, or testing laboratory of the other Party in connection 

with conformity assessment. 

ARTICLE 15 

Preservation of Regulatory Authority 

1. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as limiting a Party’s authority to 

interpret and implement its technical regulations governing equipment included 

within the scope of this Agreement. 

2. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as limiting a Party’s authority to 

determine the level of protection it considers appropriate with regard to safety, the 

protection of consumers, or other risks of concern to the Party. 

3. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as limiting a Party’s authority to 

take all appropriate measures whenever it ascertains that equipment may not meet 

the Party’s technical regulations. Such measures may include carrying out 

surveillance activities, prohibiting connection of the equipment to the public 

telecommunications network, withdrawing the equipment from the market, 

prohibiting placement of the equipment on the market, restricting free movement 

of the equipment, initiating an equipment recall, or taking other preventative 

action, including through a prohibition on imports. If a Party takes such action, it 

shall notify the other Party within 15 days of taking such action, providing its 

reasons. 

ARTICLE 16 

Fees 

Each Party shall ensure that any fee that its regulatory authorities impose on testing 

laboratories for determining compliance with the Party’s requirements for recognition is 

transparent, reasonable, and applied to testing laboratories that the other Party has 

designated, if at all, on terms no less favorable than those it accords to testing laboratories 

in its territory. 
ARTICLE 17 

 Confidence Building Work Program and Transition Period 

1. The Parties recognize that accreditation of testing laboratories, based on ISO/IEC 

international standards and guides, and experience in the operation of the 

Agreement over an appropriate period will be fundamental to the building of trust 

and confidence in this Agreement. 

2. Consequently, the Parties are committed to building trust and confidence in this 

Agreement by developing and implementing a cooperative work plan. The work 

plan may include activities such as: 

(a) joint meetings between designating authorities, regulatory authorities, and 

accreditation bodies from each Party to review technical requirements and 

implementation issues; 

(b) facilitation of technical cooperation activities to help develop institutional 

structures, procedures, and processes for measurement, testing, and other 

conformity assessment skills; 

(c) identification of joint training courses and seminars for testing 

laboratories, manufacturers, and accreditation bodies; and 

(d) opportunities for a Party’s technical assessors to observe a testing 

laboratory assessment conducted by a designating authority or 

accreditation body of the other Party. 

3. No later than 60 days from the date this Agreement enters into force, the Joint 

Committee shall elaborate and agree on the work program described in this 

Article. 

4. The transition period shall last eighteen months from the date this Agreement 

enters into force, and may be terminated sooner if the Parties so agree in writing. 

5. During the transition period, a Party shall not be required to accept test reports 

from testing laboratories of the other Party. 

ARTICLE 18 

Appendices and Annexes 

1. The following Appendices constitute integral parts of this Agreement: 

(a) Appendix A, “Requirements for Accreditation of Testing Laboratories;” 

(b) Appendix B, “Procedures for Designation and Recognition of Testing 

Laboratories and Mutual Acceptance of Test Reports.” 
2. The following Annexes do not constitute integral parts of this Agreement: 

(a) Annex I, “List of Relevant Telecommunications Laws and Technical 

Regulations for Mexico and the United States;” 

(b) Annex II, “List of Designating Authorities, Regulatory Authorities, and 

Accreditation Bodies for Mexico and the United States;” 

(c) Annex III, “List of Testing Laboratories Designated by Mexico and the 

United States;” and 

(d) Annex IV, “List of Testing Laboratories Recognized by Mexico and the 

United States.” 

3. In the event of any inconsistency between a provision in an Article of this 

Agreement and a provision in an Appendix to this Agreement, the provision in the 

Appendix shall prevail, to the extent of the inconsistency.

ARTICLE 19 

Amendment and Modification 

1. This Agreement may be amended by written agreement of the Parties. 

2. A Party may modify its lists of relevant telecommunications laws and technical 

regulations (Annex I), designating authorities, regulatory authorities, and 

accreditation bodies (Annex II), designated testing laboratories (Annex III), and 

recognized testing laboratories (Annex IV), as specified in Article 11, without the 

consent of the other Party. 

ARTICLE 20 

Termination 

1. A Party may terminate this Agreement by providing written notice of termination 

to the other Party. The termination shall take effect on a date the Parties agree or, 

if the Parties cannot agree, 180 days after the date on which the notice of 

termination is received. 

2. Following notice of termination of this Agreement by either Party under 

paragraph 1, a Party shall accept test reports that recognized testing laboratories 

provide before the date on which the Agreement terminates, unless the Party 

decides otherwise and so notifies the other Party in writing. For greater clarity, a 

Party may provide such notice in its notice of termination. 
ARTICLE 21 

Entry into Force 

This Agreement shall enter into force on June 10, 2011. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have signed 

this Agreement. 

DONE in duplicate at Paris, this __ day of May 2011, in the English and Spanish 

languages, each version being equally authentic. 

__________________________________ 

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

Ron Kirk 

United States Trade Representative 

__________________________________ 

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 

UNITED MEXICAN STATES 

Bruno Ferrari García de Alba 

Secretary of Economy 
APPENDIX A 

REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITATION OF TESTING LABORATORIES 

This Appendix sets forth the general requirements and procedures for the accreditation of 

testing laboratories under this Agreement. 

I. Technical Competence 

1. The technical competence of a testing laboratory shall be demonstrated by means 

of accreditation, including in the following areas: 

(a) Technological knowledge of the relevant equipment, processes and 

services; 

(b) Understanding of the technical regulations and the general protection 

requirements for which designation is sought; 

(c) The knowledge relevant to the applicable technical regulations; 

(d) The practical capability to perform the relevant conformity assessment; 

(e) An adequate management of the conformity assessment concerned; and 

(f) Any other evidence necessary to give assurance that the conformity 

assessment will be adequately performed on a consistent basis. 

2. To ensure consistency of the designation and accreditation processes, the relevant 

international standards and guides for conformity assessment shall be used in 

conjunction with the technical regulations of a Party to determine the technical 

competency of a testing laboratory. The following list of relevant ISO/IEC 

standards and guides shall be applied for the purpose of determining the technical 

competency of a testing laboratory: 

(a) ISO/IEC 17011:2004 – Conformity assessment - General requirements for 

accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies; and 

(b) ISO/IEC 17025:2005 – General requirements for the competence of 

testing and calibration laboratories. 

II. Requirements, Conditions, and Procedures for Accreditation of Testing 

Laboratories 

1. Each Party may use one or more designating authorities or one or more 

accreditation bodies, or both designating authorities and accreditation bodies, to 

accredit testing laboratories as capable of testing whether equipment conforms to 

the other Party’s technical regulations. 
(a) Any designating authority that is also an accreditation body listed by a 

Party in Annex II shall be capable of complying with the requirements and 

conditions of ISO/IEC 17011:2004 to the extent necessary to accredit 

testing laboratories. 

(b) Any accreditation body appointed by a designating authority shall meet 

the requirements and conditions of ISO/IEC 17011:2004. 

2. Whether a testing laboratory is accredited by a designating authority or by an 

accreditation body, in either case: 

(a) the testing laboratory shall be accredited against ISO/IEC 17025:2005 in 

conjunction with the Party’s technical regulations listed in Annex I; and 

(b) the testing laboratory shall have the technical expertise and capability for 

testing against the standards covered in the scope of the accreditation. 

Testing, if necessary, may be performed in accordance with the provisions 

for subcontracting in ISO/IEC 17025:2005. The testing laboratory also 

shall be familiar with the applicable technical regulations of the Party for 

the equipment under test. 
APPENDIX B 

PROCEDURES FOR THE DESIGNATION AND RECOGNITION OF TESTING 

LABORATORIES AND MUTUAL ACCEPTANCE OF TEST REPORTS 

This Appendix sets forth the procedures for the designation and recognition of testing 

laboratories, and for the mutual acceptance of test reports produced by recognized testing 

laboratories. 

I. Procedures for Designation of Testing Laboratories 

1. Each Party shall assign a unique six-character identifier, consisting of two letters 

identifying the Party followed by four additional alpha-numeric characters, to 

each designated testing laboratory. 

2. Each Party shall notify the other Party in writing of any designation of a testing 

laboratory. This notification shall include: the testing laboratory’s name, unique 

six-character identifier, physical address, and mailing address, the contact person 

for the testing laboratory, the contact person’s telephone number and email 

address, and the scope of the testing laboratory’s accreditation. This notification 

may be provided by a Designating Authority. 

3. Each Party shall promptly update, as necessary, any designation it has notified to 

the other Party, for example, to revise the scope of a testing laboratory’s 

accreditation. 

4. When a Party first designates a testing laboratory, that Party shall provide the 

other Party the most recent assessment documentation for the designated testing 

laboratory, including, for example, the accreditation body assessment report, 

accreditation body deficiency/non-conformity report, report on corrective actions 

implemented, and scope and certificate of accreditation. 

5. Each Party shall list in Annex III all the testing laboratories that it has designated. 

II. Procedures for the Recognition of Designated Testing Laboratories 

1. When a Party receives a notification of the designation of a testing laboratory, the 

Party shall evaluate and make a determination on recognizing the testing 

laboratory under terms and conditions no less favorable than those it accords to 

testing laboratories in its territory that apply for recognition. The Party shall 

make a determination on recognizing the testing laboratory within 60 days after 

the date on which the notification of designation is provided. 

2. Each Party generally shall recognize a testing laboratory designated in accordance 

with the procedures of Part I of this Appendix. However, neither Party shall be 

required to recognize any first-party testing laboratory or second-party testing 

laboratory. If a Party recognizes first-party testing laboratories or second-party 
testing laboratories, the Party shall also recognize first-party testing laboratories 

or second-party testing laboratories designated by the other Party under terms and 

conditions no less favorable than those it accords to testing laboratories in its 

territory that apply for recognition. 

3. If a Party determines not to recognize a designated testing laboratory, in whole or 

in part, the Party, within 60 days of the date on which the notification of the 

designation is provided, shall provide the designating authority, the designated 

testing laboratory, and the other Party a written explanation of the basis for its 

determination. 

4. When a Party notifies its determination not to recognize a designated testing 

laboratory in accordance with paragraph 3, the Party shall provide the recipients 

of the notice no fewer than 60 days after the date on which the notice is provided 

to present information responding to or correcting any deficiencies that form the 

basis for the Party’s determination to not recognize the testing laboratory. 

5. If additional information is presented in accordance with paragraph 4, the Party 

that determined not to recognize the designated testing laboratory shall reevaluate 

its determination and make a further determination on recognizing the designated 

testing laboratory in light of the additional information presented, under terms and 

conditions no less favorable than those it accords the testing laboratories in the 

Party’s territory that apply for recognition. Within 30 days of the date on which 

additional information is presented under paragraph 4, the Party shall notify the 

designating authority, the designated testing laboratory, and the other Party of its 

further determination. 

6. The Parties may jointly refer any matter relating to the designation of a testing 

laboratory to a review process the Parties consider appropriate, or to a 

subcommittee of the Joint Committee for evaluation and assistance in resolving 

relevant technical issues. 

7. Each Party shall list in Annex IV each of the testing laboratories that it has 

recognized.

III. Procedures for the Mutual Acceptance of Test Reports 

1. After a Party has recognized a testing laboratory that the other Party has 

designated, the regulatory authorities of the Party shall accept test reports 

produced by the recognized testing laboratory in accordance with the procedures 

in Article 7 and this Appendix. 

2. After receiving a test report, each Party’s regulatory authorities shall: 

(a) examine the test report promptly to ensure that the data and documentation 

contained in the test report are complete; 
(b) inform the applicant in writing of any deficiency in the Test Report in a 

timely and precise manner; 

(c) limit any request for additional information from the testing laboratory to 

omissions, inconsistencies, and/or variances from the Party’s technical 

regulations; and 

(d) avoid re-testing and duplicate testing, in particular where, for example, 

there is a change in commercial distribution agreements, logo, packaging, 

or a minor equipment change that does not affect compliance with 

technical regulations. 

3. Each Party shall grant applications for equipment certification that are 

accompanied by test reports produced by recognized testing laboratories in the 

other Party’s territory under transparent terms and conditions no less favorable 

than those it accords to applications for equipment certification that are 

accompanied by test reports produced by recognized testing laboratories in the 

Party’s territory. 

4. Each Party shall process and communicate decisions regarding applications for 

equipment certification that are accompanied by test reports produced by 

recognized testing laboratories in the other Party’s territory at least as promptly as 

it processes and communicates decisions regarding applications for equipment 

certification that are accompanied by test reports produced by recognized testing 

laboratories in the Party’s territory. 
ANNEX I

LIST OF RELEVANT TELECOMMUNICATIONS LAWS 

AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS 

MEXICO 

A. LIST OF RELEVANT TELECOMMUNICATIONS LAWS 

 Federal Telecommunications Law (PUBLISHED – June 7, 1995; AMMENDED – 

November 30, 2010) 

 Federal Metrology and Standardization Law (PUBLISHED – July 1, 1992; 

AMMENDED – April 30, 2009) 

 Telecommunications Regulations (PUBLISHED – October 29, 1990; 

AMMENDED – January 25, 2001) 

 Conformity Assessment Procedures (PUBLISHED – August 11, 2005) 

B. LIST OF TECHNICAL REGULATIONS 

The technical regulations for which Mexico shall accept test reports from recognized 

testing laboratories designated by the United States are: 

1. NOM-083-SCT1-2002, “Telecommunications - Radiocommunication - Technical 

specifications for transmitting equipment used in one way mobile radiolocation 

services.” (PUBLISHED - April 16, 2003). 

2. NOM-084-SCT1-2002, “Telecommunications - Radiocommunication - Technical 

specifications of transmitting equipment used in specialized fleet 

radiocommunication mobile services.” (trunking) (PUBLISHED - April 17, 

2003). 

3. NOM-088/1-SCT1-2002, “Telecommunications - Radiocommunication - 

Microwave equipment for multi-channel systems in the fixed service point to 

point and point to multipoint - Part 1: Radio multiple access.” (PUBLISHED - 

April 18, 2003). 

4. NOM-088/2-SCT1-2002, “Telecommunications - Radiocommunication - 

Microwave equipment for multi-channel systems in the fixed service point to 

point and point to multipoint - Part 2: Transport.” (PUBLISHED - April 21, 

2003). 

5. NOM-151-SCT1-1999, “Public network interface for terminal equipment.” 

(PUBLISHED - September 20, 1999). 

6. NOM-152-SCT1-1999, “Digital interface to public networks (2.048 kbps digital 

interface).” (PUBLISHED - September 20, 1999). 
7. NOM-121-SCT1-2009, “Telecommunications - Radicommunication - 

Radiocommunication systems employing spread spectrum techniques - 

radiocommunication equipment with frequency hopping and digital modulation 

operating in the bands 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz and 5725-5850 MHz - 

specifications, limits and test methods.” (PUBLISHED - June 21, 2010). 

UNITED STATES 

A. LIST OF RELEVANT TELECOMMUNICATIONS LAWS 

Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Title 

47 of the United States Code) 

B. LIST OF TECHNICAL REGULATIONS 

The existing technical regulations for which the United States shall accept test reports 

from recognized testing laboratories designated by Mexico are: 

1. U.S. FCC Rules and Regulations for Telephone Terminal Equipment that are 

contained in the following: 

a. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): 

Frequency Allocations and Radio Treaty Matters; 

General Rules and Regulations 

47 CFR Part 2 

Telephone Terminal Equipment 47 CFR Part 68 

 

b. documents published by the Administrative Council for Terminal 

Attachment (ACTA), established in the FCC CC Docket 99-216: 

TIA-968-B (September 22, 2009), Telecommunications - Telephone 

Terminal Equipment - Technical Requirements for Connection of 

Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network 

 

2. U.S. FCC Rules and Regulations for Transmitter Equipment that are contained in 

the following: 

Frequency Allocations and Radio Treaty Matters; 

General Rules and Regulations 

47 CFR Part 2 

Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) 47 CFR Part 11 

Radio Frequency Devices 47 CFR Part 15 

Commercial Mobile Radio Services 47 CFR Part 20 

Public Mobile Services 47 CFR Part 22 

Personal Communications Services 47 CFR Part 24 
Satellite Communications 47 CFR Part 25 

Miscellaneous Wireless Communications Services 47 CFR Part 27 

Radio Broadcast Services 47 CFR Part 73 

Experimental Radio, Auxiliary, Special Broadcast 

and Other Program Distributional Services 

47 CFR Part 74 

Cable Television Relay Service 47 CFR Part 78 

Stations in the Maritime Services 47 CFR Part 80 

Aviation Services 47 CFR Part 87 

Private Land Mobile Radio Services 47 CFR Part 90 

Personal Radio Services 47 CFR Part 95 

Amateur Radio Service 47 CFR Part 97 

Fixed Microwave Services 47 CFR Part 101 

 

3. U.S. FCC Rules and Regulations for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) that 

are contained in the following: 

Frequency Allocations and Radio Treaty Matters; 

General Rules and Regulations 

47 CFR Part 2 

Radio Frequency Devices 47 CFR Part 15 

Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment 47 CFR Part 18 

C. PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS 

The texts of documents cited above may be obtained through links at the following 

Internet addresses, or by purchase from the U.S. Government Printing Office (see 

www.gpo.gov for ordering information): 

Document Available at following website 

Communications Act of 1934, as 

amended by the Telecommunications 

Act of 1996 

http://www.fcc.gov/telecom.html

FCC Rules and Regulations http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/rules/

Documents published by the 

Administrative Council for Terminal 

Attachment (ACTA) 

http://www.part68.org/
ANNEX II 

LIST OF DESIGNATING AUTHORITIES, REGULATORY AUTHORITIES, 

AND ACCREDITATION BODIES 

 

MEXICO 

Designating Authorities

Name of Designating Authority: Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones / Federal 

Telecommunications Commission 

Physical address: Bosque de Radiatas 44, Col. Bosques de las Lomas, C.P. 05120, 

Delegación Cuajimalpa, México, D.F. 

Mailing address: Bosque de Radiatas 44, Col. Bosques de las Lomas, C.P. 05120, 

Delegación Cuajimalpa, México, D.F. 

Home page address: http://www.cft.gob.mx 

Name/title of contact person: Mario Fromow 

Phone: +52-5550154005 

Fax: +52-5550154062 

E-mail address: mario.fromow@cft.gob.mx 

Regulatory Authorities

Name of Designating Authority: Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones / Federal 

Telecommunications Commission 

Physical address: Bosque de Radiatas 44, Col. Bosques de las Lomas, C.P. 05120, 

Delegación Cuajimalpa, México, D.F. 

Mailing address: Bosque de Radiatas 44, Col. Bosques de las Lomas, C.P. 05120, 

Delegación Cuajimalpa, México, D.F. 

Home page address: http://www.cft.gob.mx 

Name/title of contact person: Mario Fromow 

Phone: +52-5550154005 

Fax: +52-5550154062 

E-mail address: mario.fromow@cft.gob.mx 

Accreditation Bodies

Name of Accreditation Body: Entidad Mexicana de Acreditación (EMA) 

Physical address: Manuel Ma. Contreras 133, 1er. Piso, Col. Cuauhtémoc, C.P. 06597, 

México D.F. 

Mailing address: Manuel Ma. Contreras 133, 1er. Piso, Col. Cuauhtémoc, C.P. 06597, 

México D.F. 

Home page address: http://www.ema.org.mx 

Name/title of contact person: Maribel López 
Phone: +52-5591484300 

Fax: +52-5555910529 

E-mail address: maribel@ema.org.mx 

UNITED STATES 

Designating Authorities

1. Name of Designating Authority: National Institute of Standards and Technology 

(NIST) or an authority succeeding this institute. 

Physical address: 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070 

Mailing address: 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1070, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070 

Home page address: http://www.nist.gov 

Name/title of contact person: Ramona Saar 

Phone: +1 (301) 975-5521 

Fax: + 1 (301) 975-4715 

E-mail address: ramona.saar@nist.gov 

Regulatory Authorities

1. Name of Designating Authority: Federal Communications Commission 

Physical address: 7435 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046 

Mailing address: 7435 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046 

Home page address: http://www.fcc.gov 

Name/title of contact person: William Hurst 

Phone: +1 (301) 362-3031 

Fax: +1 (301) 362-3290 

E-mail address: William.Hurst@fcc.gov 

Accreditation Bodies

1. Name of Accreditation Body: American Association for Laboratory Accreditation 

(A2LA) 

Physical address: 5301 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, MD 21704 

Mailing address: 5301 Buckeystown Pike, Suite 350, Frederick, MD 21704 

Home page address: www.a2la.org 

Name/title of contact person: Adam Gouker 

Phone: +1 301 644-3217 

Fax: +1 301 662-2974 

E-mail address: agouker@a2la.org 
2. Name of Accreditation Body: ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board/ACLASS 

(ACLASS) 

Physical address: 500 Montgomery Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 

Mailing address: 500 Montgomery Street, Suite 625, Alexandria, VA 22314 

Home page address: www.aclasscorp.com 

Name/title of contact person: Bill Hirt 

Phone: +1 (703) 836-0025 

Fax: + 1 (703) 836-0040 

E-mail address: Bill.hirt@aclasscorp.com 

3. Name of Accreditation Body: National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program 

(NVLAP) 

Physical address: 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140 

Mailing address: 100 Bureau Drive, M/S 2140 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140 

Home page address: www.nist.gov/pml/nvlap/index.cfm 

Name/title of contact person: Brad Moore 

Phone: +1 (301) 975-5740 

Fax: +1 (301) 926-2884 

E-mail address: brad.moore@nist.gov
ANNEX III 

LIST OF DESIGNATED TESTING LABORATORIES 

MEXICO 

Name of Testing Laboratory: 

Six-character identifier: 

Physical address: 

Mailing address: 

Name/title of contact person: 

Phone: 

Fax: 

E-mail address: 

Technical regulations for which this Testing Laboratory has been designated: 

UNITED STATES 

Name of Testing Laboratory: 

Six-character identifier: 

Physical address: 

Mailing address: 

Name/title of contact person: 

Phone: 

Fax: 

E-mail address: 

Technical regulations for which this Testing Laboratory has been designated: 

 
ANNEX IV 

LIST OF RECOGNIZED TESTING LABORATORIES 

MEXICO 

Name of Testing Laboratory: 

Six-character identifier: 

Physical address: 

Mailing address: 

Name/title of contact person: 

Phone: 

Fax: 

E-mail address: 

Technical regulations for which this Testing Laboratory has been designated: 

UNITED STATES 

Name of Testing Laboratory: 

Six-character identifier: 

Physical address: 

Mailing address: 

Name/title of contact person: 

Phone: 

Fax: 

E-mail address: 

Technical regulations for which this Testing Laboratory has been designated: