While AF Holding deals with many overseas companies, we again will use Mexico as the case study example. When dealing in Mexico, the marks are called NOM’s (Normas Oficiales Mexicanas, or Official Mexican Standards). AF Holding’s extensive and fully bilingual team, gives us the power and knowledge to provide you with definitive advice and direction, and effectively push your international Mexico business agenda forward.
NOM’s are Mexican federal standards that regulate products that are destined for and distributed in Mexico. Any non-compliance with these standards usually leads to fines and penalties imposed on the importer. These federal standards are divided into two primary categories:
1. Textual standards have to do with regards to the product’s packaging, labeling, operating manuals, and warranties. This applies to all products. Testing is not mandatory, even though compliance is. AF Holding will help you effectively comply with these lawful standards and make it so your launch into the Mexican marketplace is seamless and successful, without a hitch.
2. Safety and Functional Standards of the products: Products need to be deemed by the government to be either safe or hazardous to the population or the environment: Both the compliance and the testing of products to determine their safety and function performance therefore, are mandatory.
NOM’s are comprehensive and varied. For instance, NOM’s validate and certify that your electrical product meets safety wiring standards. Other standards, like the NMX – NormasMexicanas (Mexican Standards), are voluntary. They are issued by nationally recognized standards-making bodies.
Additionally, if you claim to meet a particular NMX standard or if a government contract requires it, NMX compliance and testing then become mandatory.