Mexico Reach Regulation for Various Sectors

There is no chemical regulation  in Mexico. In 2019, the General Health Council (CGS) proposed the Comprehensive National Policy for the Management of Chemical Substances. CHS’s proposal intended to put the burden of proof on companies to show that substances are safe; enable authorities to impose restrictions and bans on chemicals after an assessment; to impose obligations on producers or importing companies to provide regular information, etc. Expected to be submitted to Congress in 2020 and be approved by 2021, the bill is delayed.

Inventory

In 2009, the first step towards a national chemical inventory occurred in Mexico. In total, the inventory has 5.852 chemicals present and is based on 2009 as the reference year.  The inventory was more characterized as a catalog since it did not impose any obligation on the national market, it was the initial step for a pilot project to be established.

In 2018, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) published the Guidelines for the use of the National Catalog of Chemical Substances for statistical and geographic purposes. The document considered information provided by the national chemical industry and importers, in addition to being a homologation tool for substances collected so far.

In December 2020, National Chemical Industry Association (ANIQ) proposed changes to the national chemical substance inventory, which includes the possibility to improve the management of chemicals by assessing the substance through its life cycle. According to ANIQ’s proposal, the suggested inventory would serve as a basis for future chemical regulation advancement, support a better decision-making process, and contribute to the national industry. It is predicted that the agencies are working together to strengthen and streamline the proposal implementation process, presenting a project that does not only control but also promotes and develops the industry’s production. Neither ANIQ nor CGS have made changes available to the public (until this publication date).

Adoption of GHS

In 2015, the norm NOM-018-STPS-2015 was responsible for incorporating GHS standards 5^th version in Mexico, with a transitional period of 3 years, which entered into force in October 2018.