Mexico NOM Certification Testing Requirements

What is NOM?

NOM (Normas Oficiales Mexicanas) mark is Mexico's mandatory safety mark indicating that products comply with the relevant NOM standards. The NOM mark applies to most products, including telecommunications and information technology equipment, household electrical appliances, lighting, and other products with potential health and safety hazards. Both domestically manufactured and imported products in Mexico must comply with the relevant NOM standards and product labeling requirements. NOM certification primarily focuses on safety certification requirements.

According to Mexican law, the holder of the NOM certificate must be a Mexican company responsible for the product's quality, maintenance, and reliability. Test reports are issued by SECOFI-recognized laboratories and reviewed by SECOFI, ANCE, or NYCE. If the product meets the relevant regulatory requirements, a certificate is issued to the manufacturer's or exporter’s Mexican representative, allowing the product to bear the NOM mark.

Mexico has two verification entities that can issue the NOM mark:

- NOM NYCE: Verification scope includes all electronic and information products and data processing equipment, excluding household appliances (except for microwave ovens).

- NOM ANCE: Verification scope includes all electrical and similar products (such as household appliances).

- Not applicable to IEC standards, applicable to NOM standards.

- No need for EMC testing.

Technical Information

- Mexico's voltage is 127V/60Hz.

- The plugs are the same as U.S. plugs. One type is Class I with three connectors, and the other is Class II with two connectors. The plug will be tested together with the equipment.

Certification Issuance

- Certificates are valid for one year and can be renewed annually.

- When renewing the certificate, a product must be randomly sampled from the market and sent to the laboratory for testing.

- Product packaging must include the following information: product name, brand name, model, and NOM verification mark.

Documentation Requirements

- CB test report and certificate.

- Importer's or distributor's name, address, and contact person in Mexico.

- Test data, design drawings, specifications, and circuit diagrams.

- Spanish labels.

- Original user manual in Spanish.

- One sample. Additional documents required by importers or distributors:

- Copy of company authorization letter.

- Copy of company uniform number.

- Authorization proof (Power of Attorney).

- Legal agent's official proof.

- Company letterhead.

- Copy of registered company tax proof.

Factory Inspection

Not required.

Test Samples

One to three test samples (depending on the product).

Review Time

After submitting all documents, it takes 5-6 weeks. Once the NOM application is completed, the original certificate and report will be sent to the local agent in Mexico. The original applicant company will receive a fax copy. The agent must properly keep the original certificate and report for reference and future inspections.

Mutual Recognition of North American Certifications

On August 17, 2010, the Mexican government announced a new resolution in the "Government Gazette," confirming the equivalence of three NOM standards in Mexico with corresponding standards in the U.S. and Canada. Therefore, for importing the following electrical and electronic products into Mexico, as long as a North American certification mark (e.g., UL, CSA, ETL, MET) is applied, there is no need to apply for NOM certification.

- Audio and Video Equipment

  - NOM Standard: NOM 001-SCFI 1993

  - U.S. Standard: ANSI/UL 60065, UL 6500

  - Canadian Standard: CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60065-2003+ Amendment 1

  - Excludes power adapters.

- Office Equipment

  - NOM Standard: NOM-016 SCFI 1993

  - U.S. Standard: ANSI/UL 60335-1

  - Canadian Standard: CAN/CSA-E60335-1/4E-03 (R2007)

  - Excludes ordinary household appliances or lighting equipment.

- Information Technology Equipment

  - NOM Standard: NOM-019 SCFI 1998

  - U.S. Standard: ANSI/UL 60950-1 2nd edition

  - Canadian Standard: CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1-07 2nd edition

Solutions from China's JJR Laboratory

China's JJR Laboratory is an IEC 17025 authorized laboratory with years of experience in NOM certification for electronic and electrical equipment. It can convert CB certifications to local NOM certification requirements or achieve equivalent recognition by completing North American safety certifications such as MET.