Selling packaged food or drinks in Mexico? Make sure your label passes NOM-051.
Our team reviews your current label and nutrition data against Mexico's labeling standard and delivers a written compliance report, the warning-seal calculation and, if you need it, corrected Spanish label text. Fully remote, in English.
Request a quote kn@bioteknomata.comWhy Mexico is different
Prepackaged foods and non-alcoholic beverages sold in Mexico must comply with NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010, as modified in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF) on 27 March 2020. A label that is fully compliant in the US, Canada or the EU will usually need changes.
Front-of-pack warning seals
Black octagons such as "EXCESO AZÚCARES" or "EXCESO SODIO" are required when a product exceeds the norm's nutrient profile for calories, sugars, saturated fat, trans fat or sodium.
NOM-051, 4.5.3 and Appendix AWhich limits apply now
The second-phase limits apply until 31 December 2027. The third phase starts on 1 January 2028, per an agreement published in the DOF on 31 July 2025.
DOF 31/07/2025Sweetener and caffeine statements
Products with sweeteners must carry "CONTIENE EDULCORANTES, NO RECOMENDABLE EN NIÑOS"; products with added caffeine, "CONTIENE CAFEÍNA EVITAR EN NIÑOS".
NOM-051, 7.1.3 and 7.1.4Limits on child-directed elements
Products with one or more seals or the sweetener statement may not show children's characters, cartoons, celebrities, athletes, mascots or child-directed interactive elements that promote their consumption.
NOM-051, 4.1.5Spanish and per-100 declarations
All mandatory information must appear in Spanish. Energy is declared in kcal (kJ) per 100 g or 100 mL; nutrients are also per 100 g or 100 mL, with per-serving figures allowed only in addition.
NOM-051, 4.8.1, 4.5.2.4.2, 4.5.2.4.3Other mandatory data
- Importer's name and address for imported products (4.2.4.1)
- Country of origin
- Lot and expiry or best-before date on each individual package (4.7.1.2)
- Allergens declared under "Contiene" per Mexico's own list (4.2.2.2.3)
How imported products can comply
Mexico's Ministry of Economy (Secretaría de Economía) enforces NOM-051 at the border: its foreign-trade rules list the norm in Annex 2.4.1 (the "Acuerdo de NOMs"). Under numeral 6 of that annex, the importer can choose one of three routes:
- Label at origin. Goods arrive already labeled, with a constancia de conformidad (certificate of conformity) issued by an accredited and approved verification or inspection unit. Customs checks that your labels match the one in the constancia.
- Label in a bonded warehouse. Labeling in Mexico at an Almacén General de Depósito accredited as a verification or inspection unit.
- Label at the importer's address. Available only to importers meeting specific requirements; a verification unit checks the labeling there.
Each route has procedural conditions. Confirm the right one with your importer and customs broker.
Where we fit in
Whatever route you choose, the label itself has to be right first. That is our work: we make sure your label content is compliant before it goes to an inspection unit or a printer.
We are not an inspection unit. We do not issue the constancia de conformidad and we do not translate legal documents for customs. On request, we can explain how to find accredited inspection units.
Common mistakes on foreign labels
These are the issues we see most often on US, Canadian and European artwork.
Nutrition Facts copied as-is
A US or Canadian panel translated line by line does not follow the Mexican format, and per-serving values alone are not enough: per 100 g or 100 mL is mandatory.
Missing or wrong seals
No seals, the wrong number of seals, or seals calculated with the wrong phase or with nutrition data that does not match the formula.
Claims next to seals
On labels with warning seals and statements, health claims are not allowed, and nutrient claims directly related to a declared seal are prohibited (numeral 6.3).
Characters and kids' graphics
Mascots, cartoons or games kept on a product that now carries seals or the sweetener statement.
Allergen list mismatch
Mexico's list is not the same as the US or EU one; for example, it names all gluten-containing cereals and molluscs.
No importer or Spanish data
Missing importer details, English-only ingredient lists, or a missing lot and date on individual units inside a multipack.
Service packages
Every finding in the report is tied to the specific numeral of NOM-051 that supports it. Fixed-price quote within 1–3 business days.
Label review, 1 SKU
- Review of your current label/artwork and nutrition data
- Warning-seal and precautionary-statement calculation
- Written compliance report, each finding referenced to the norm
Fixed-price quote within 1–3 business days
Review + Spanish text, 1 SKU
- Everything in Basic
- Corrected Spanish label text, ready for your designer
Fixed-price quote within 1–3 business days
Up to 3 SKUs + revision
- Everything in Standard, for up to 3 SKUs
- One revision round on your updated artwork
Fixed-price quote within 1–3 business days
Try our free warning-seal calculator first: Calculadora NOM-051. The tool is in Spanish, but you only need your nutrition values per 100 g or 100 mL.
How it works
Remote from start to finish. We reply within 1–3 business days.
Send your files
Current label or artwork, ingredient list or formula, and nutrition data.
Get a fixed quote
We confirm scope, price and delivery date before any work starts.
We review
Our team checks every mandatory element against the norm in force and calculates the seals.
Receive your report
Editable report with each finding and its numeral, plus Spanish text if included.
FAQ
Do you issue the constancia de conformidad?
No. Only an accredited and approved verification or inspection unit can issue it. We prepare your label content so it is ready for that inspection, and we can explain how to find accredited units.
Can we keep our original label and add a Spanish sticker?
Mexico's customs rules accept permitted adhesive labels, provided they carry the information required by the norm and are attached so they cannot be easily removed. The seals also have their own size and placement requirements, which we check in the review.
Which seal limits will you apply?
The second-phase limits currently in force, which apply until 31 December 2027. If you are planning artwork for 2028, tell us and we will flag where the third phase could change the result.
What do you need from us?
Your label artwork (PDF or image), the ingredient list in order, nutrition data, and whether the product contains added sugars, sweeteners or caffeine. Our calculation relies on the data you provide; we do not perform laboratory analysis.
Can we write to you in English?
Yes. Our contact form is in Spanish, but you can write to us in English through it or email kn@bioteknomata.com. Reports can be delivered in English, with the Spanish label text.
Request a quote
Tell us about your product, the number of SKUs and your target launch date. Use the contact form on our home page (it is in Spanish; just write to us in English) or email us directly.
Go to the contact form Email usSources
- NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 as modified (DOF, 27 March 2020)
- DOF record of the 2020 modification (SIDOF)
- Agreement extending the second phase (DOF, 31 July 2025)
- Foreign-trade rules, Annex 2.4.1 amendment on labeling NOMs (DOF, 1 October 2020)
- COFEPRIS manual on the NOM-051 modification
- Secretaría de Economía · COFEPRIS
This page is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed October 2026.