An import permit is required for dairy products exported to Mexico.

Milk and milk products of bovine origin are defined as prescribed goods under the Export Control Act. Production of these products for export is regulated under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Milk and milk products manufactured from non-bovine species, for example buffalo, goat and sheep, may also need to be regulated through the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, though this is only required when export registration and health certification from the Department is required by Mexico.

We are not aware that Mexico has any known additional requirements for the production and export of non-bovine milk and milk products.

Unless technical products and pharmaceutical material are prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non prescribed goods. They are not regulated by the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Unless animal food is prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non prescribed goods under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

In accordance with the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, animal food must be clearly identified as animal food and not for human consumption. It must also be segregated from and not contaminate milk and milk products that are for human consumption. These products must be labelled as not for human consumption.

Mexico has no known additional requirements for Manufacturing Grade milk and milk products that differ from the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Manufacturing grade products are defined in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021. These products must be labelled as not for human consumption.

Mexico has no known additional requirements for microbial sampling of milk and milk products that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Mexico residue standards

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in Mexico or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Mexico and Australia.

Food business operators should note that:

• These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Mexico standards and the Australian standards.
• Any detection of a residue above the Mexico MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.

Note

Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.

Milk and milk products that are prescribed under Australia's export rules

1. are milk or milk products derived from a bovine animal; and
2. are intended to be exported as food.

Milk and milk products that are not prescribed under Australia's export rules

Milk and milk products which do not meet the criteria under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 are classified by Australia as non-prescribed goods. It is the responsibility of the exporter to confirm with Mexico if there are any specific requirements for the import of these products. Typically, non-prescribed goods include, ice-cream, non-bovine milk products, colostrum and products with a minor component of dairy.

Further information on exporting non-prescribed goods from Australia is available on the Department's website.

In some cases, an importing country requires specific health certification and government oversight for what would typically be non-prescribed milk and milk products. When required, these products become prescribed under export legislation and must meet all export and importing country requirements. This includes the products being manufactured and stored at an export registered establishment and must have a valid export permit and health certificate for each consignment. Guidance on export registration can be found at Dairy export registered establishments.

5.1.1 Health certification for milk and milk products

For milk and milk products produced for human consumption (including milk and milk products classified as a prescribed good by an importing Country), use Health Certificate template ZDMX01 with endorsement 456.

Endorsement 456 – Bilingual Mexico

1. The dairy input used in this product is of bovine origin.
2. The dairy input of animal origin used in the preparation of the product is originally from the country stated in this document as country of origin; or that they were legally imported from a country free from foot-and-mouth disease (Picornavirus).
3. The product was obtained from animals that upon inspection were found healthy.
4. The product was processed in an establishment under official control.
5. The product is approved by an official sanitary body for human consumption.

Exporter declaration

Whenever export documentation is obtained, the exporter must provide a declaration stating that all the information provided in the permit is true and complete. They must also state that they are in possession of a declaration of compliance that:

1. applies to the milk and milk products
   
2. complies with the requirements of the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
   

Transit certification requirements

Milk and milk products transiting the European Union or the United States may require transit documentation. These certificates are available as additional certificates through the NEXDOC system. If the product is transiting the United States, standard certification is required and the exporter should contact the Department for advice on how this certification may be issued. If the product is transiting a European Union member state, see the particular European Union member state regarding the certificate template to select.

Use of certificates and endorsements other than a ZDMX01 with endorsement 456

Mexico’s biosecurity agency, SENASICA, has advised that bilaterally agreed bilingual (English/Spanish) export certificates must accompany all shipments of animal products/ by-products exported from Australia to Mexico.

Shipments not accompanied by bilaterally agreed bilingual export certification are likely to be rejected on arrival in Mexico.

Existing English-only certificates will be unavailable until amended certificates have been negotiated with SENASICA.

Exporters with established trade in animal product/by-product exports to Mexico using English-only certificates are encouraged to contact the Department's regional offices to discuss certification arrangements​.

For manufacturing grade (DM) milk and milk products, use the ZD016 Certificate as to Condition for Manufacturing Grade products.

The ZD016 Certificate as to Condition contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

1. In sound condition
   
2. Of Australian Origin
   

SENASICA, has advised that bilaterally agreed bilingual (English/Spanish) export certificates must accompany all shipments of animal products exported from Australia to Mexico.

As there are no agreed bilingual export certificates for technical products and pharmaceutical materials, shipments of these products are likely to be rejected on arrival in Mexico.

Exporters with established trade in technical products and pharmaceutical materials to Mexico using English-only certificates are encouraged to contact the Department's regional offices to discuss certification arrangements.

Mexico's biosecurity agency, SENASICA, has advised that bilaterally agreed bilingual (English/Spanish) export certificates must accompany all shipments of animal products exported from Australia to Mexico.

As there are no agreed bilingual export certificates for milk-based stockfeed or animal feed, shipments of these products are likely to be rejected on arrival in Mexico.

Exporters with established trade in milk-based stockfeed or animal feed to Mexico using English-only certificates are encouraged to contact the Department's exports to Mexico using English-only certificates are encouraged to contact the Department's regional offices to discuss certification arrangements.

An import permit is required for dairy products exported to Mexico.

Mexico’s Federal Animal Health Law requires the following information to appear on health certificates (in English and Spanish) for all animal products for human consumption:

• Batch number/ Número de Lote
• Packing date/ Fecha de empaque
• Expiry date/ Fecha de caducidad

The information on the certificate must be consistent with information printed on the product label, and is subject to verification by port officials. Consignments that do not comply may be refused entry into Mexico.

Mexico has no other known specific requirements for packaging in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Mexico’s Federal Animal Health Law requires the following information to appear on health certificates (in English and Spanish) for all animal products for human consumption:

• Batch number/ Número de Lote
• Packing date/ Fecha de empaque
• Expiry date/ Fecha de caducidad

The information on the certificate must be consistent with information printed on the product label, and is subject to verification by port officials. Consignments that do not comply may be refused entry into Mexico.

Mexico has no other known specific requirements for labelling in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Mexico has no known specific requirements for shelf life restrictions other than those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Shipping marks (port marks) (identified as the lot number by Mexican Authorities) that appears on all carton labels and outer tags, should always exactly match that on the health certificate. If industry wishes to indicate the production lot on carton labels, alternative words such as 'batch number' should be used to avoid confusion.

Mexico has no other known specific requirements for shipping marks (port marks).