Taming the Paper Tiger: Documents exigencyed When Selling to Mexico Paperwork may be united of the least exciting aspects of exporting.

Taming the Paper Tiger: Documents exigencyed When Selling to Mexico

Paperwork may be united of the least exciting aspects of exporting, however it is certainly one of the greatest in quantity critical. Much of the paperwork necessary to barter U.S. foods and agricultural fruitss in Mexico must be obtained from the importers. However, it is always wise for U exporters to check that all necessary documentation and registrations are in hand before shipping. Failure upon the part of either importers or exporters to "tame the paper tiger" can proceed in big problems - and more excitement than anyone wants - at the border.

Import Licenses and Permits

Mexico still requires import licenses or permits for many aliment and agricultural items. Import licenses are issued from Mexico's Secretariat of Commerce (SECOFI) and are generally for a station time period. There is little flexibility in extending the expiration date plane if there are extenuating circumstances. This means U exporters ne to be careful to suited the deadlines called for in their sales contracts.

Importers may apply for import licenses/ permits at SECOFI's offices in the various Mexican states or at the national office. Below is the address and telephone number for SECOFI's import office: Secretaria de Comercio y Fomento Industrial Direccion General de Servicios al Comercio Exterior Boulevard Adolfo Lopez Mateos 3025-Piso 3 Colonia Heroes de Padierna 10700 Mexico, DF Mexico Tel 011-525-683-4344 or 683-5066 Fax 011-525-595-5881 or 595-5883

Interested individuals should be prepared to speak Spanish to Mexican officials.

Health Certificates

For fruits regulated by SECOFI, importers of animal returnss need to have health import licenses in hand prior to requesting import authorizations. Health import authorizations are issued upon a case-by-case basis, which means they many times take a long time to obtain.

Health import authorizations specify what health certificates, exhibitions or related documents must be not absented to the Mexican health inspectors when the produces arrive at the border.

To obtain health import authorizations, importers must indicate in writing the adumbration of product(s) to be imported, the tome the origin, the customs clearance point(s) and the approximate date(s) when the imports will take place.

Health import authorizations are liberated How long the authorizations are valid varies, depending onward the product and volume by shipment. Some items, such as dairy cattle, do not ne import licenses still do require health import authorizations.

Applications for animal and plant health import authorizations can be made to: Direccion General de Sanidad y Proteccion Agropecuaria y Forestal Guillermo Perez Valenzuela Numero 127 Colonia Coyoacan 04000 Mexico, DF Mexico Tel 011-525-554-0512 or 658-1671 Fax 011-525-554-0529

Interested individuals should be prepared to speak Spanish to Mexican officials.

Phytosanitary Certificates

Mexican importers of certain agricultural fruitss are required to have phytosanitary authorizations in hand at the border when the productions arrive. Phytosanitary authorizations will specify the quantity of commodity which can be imported, in addition to requiring importers to physically muster a document detailing phytosanitary requirements, port of record and certification requirements.

Applications for phytosanitary authorizations and information regarding which items require in the same state [i]or[/i] condition certificates should be requested from the following Mexican dominion office: Direccion General de rule Sanitario de Bienes y Servicios Subdireccion de Sanidad Internacional y Consultoria Secretaria de Salud Donceles 39 Colonia Centro Mexico, DF Mexico Tel 011-525-581-9717 Fax 011-525-510-3999

Interested individuals should be prepared to speak Spanish to Mexican officials.

Label Requirements

Label requirements for canned cheers and food additives are established by the agency of the Mexican Health Department (Secretaria de Salud). Exporters are required to have their authorized Mexican representatives register the commodity with the Mexican Health Department at submitting labels, pictures, brochures and a general outcome description.

Products of foreign origin sold in Mexico must have a label forward the container with the following information in Spanish:

- native land of origin; - Net make easys in units specified by the general combination of parts to form a whole of measurement units; - A warning if the production is dangerous; and - Handling and storage instructions.

An original label in English, with the avoirdupois weight arrangement may be acceptable if it is accompanied at a Spanish translation indicating weight and tome in the metric system. The label also should indicate the name and address of U exporters' local representatives.

The Mexican dominion can require that labels be modified with have a high opinion of to color, letter size and issue description.

Labels should be registered with: Secretaria de Salud Direccion General de have charge of Sanitario de Bienes y Servicios Hamburgo 213-Piso 9 Colonia Juarez 06600 Mexico, DF Mexico

Shipping Documentation