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Selling kitchenware and food contact products in Mexico

In Mexico, glazed pottery, ceramics, porcelain and glass for food and drink meet NOM-231-SSA1-2016 limits on soluble lead and cadmium, or carry a legend that they are not for food use. The health regulation sets general rules for materials in contact with food, and NOM-050-SCFI-2004 sets the commercial information on the pack.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Ceramics and glass
NOM-231-SSA1-2016
Metals limited
Soluble lead and cadmium
Failing pieces
Legend or a hole in the base
Food contact rules
Health regulation, Articles 209 to 213 and Appendix XXII
Commercial information
NOM-050-SCFI-2004, in Spanish
Appliances
See the electronics guide

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is it glazed pottery, ceramics, porcelain or glass for food or drink? Read more
  2. 2Do test reports show lead and cadmium within the NOM-231 limits? Read more
  3. 3If not, does the piece carry the legend or the hole in the base? Read more
  4. 4Do the materials meet the general food contact rules? Read more
  5. 5Does the pack carry the NOM-050 information in Spanish? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Lead and cadmium in ceramics and glass

The limits for glazed and glass articles that hold or prepare food.

  • NOM-231-SSA1-2016 (Artículos de alfarería vidriada, cerámica vidriada, porcelana y artículos de vidrio. Límites máximos permisibles de plomo y cadmio solubles) was published in the DOF on 25 October 2016.
  • It sets maximum limits for soluble lead and cadmium in glazed pottery, glazed ceramics, porcelain and glass articles used to contain or prepare food and drink, and the test method.
  • It binds those responsible for these articles, national and imported, that are sold in Mexico.
  • The NOM is in partial concordance with the international standards ISO 6486 and ISO 7086.

How we help: Upload a lab report and Compliant Always reads the lead and cadmium results against the NOM-231 limits for that article type. Ask about this

Pieces not for food use

What a piece that fails the limits, or is decorative, must carry.

  • Pieces that exceed the limits carry the legend "no usar con alimentos o bebidas, contiene plomo" in fired ceramic pigment, or have a hole of at least 2 mm in the base.
  • Decorative pieces carry the legend as well.
  • Pieces for export carry "Not for food or drink use, this product contains lead".

How we help: Compliant Always records which pieces are decorative or not for food use, with the marking each one carries. Ask about this

General rules for food contact materials

What the health regulation says about containers and packaging for food.

  • Packaging must not release substances harmful to health into the food (Appendix XXII, 2, of the health regulation).
  • Wood may not be used as primary packaging for food (Appendix XXII, 3).
  • Internal coatings are non-toxic, free of heavy metals and do not migrate into the product (Article 211).
  • Recycled material is used only where the container is safe for the product (Article 212), and containers do not leak (Article 213).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps your suppliers' declarations of compliance and migration reports with each article. Ask about this

Commercial information

The pack information for kitchenware sold to consumers.

  • Where no specific NOM applies, NOM-050-SCFI-2004 sets the commercial information: the product name if not visible, quantity, the name and tax address of the manufacturer or importer, country of origin, warnings, and instructions where needed (5.2.1).
  • The information is in Spanish, legible, and at least 1.5 mm high, or 1 mm on panels of 32 cm² or less (5.2.2).
  • Electrical kitchen appliances follow NOM-024-SCFI-2013 and the safety NOMs; see the electronics guide.
  • PROFECO may order withdrawals, alerts and recalls of products that put consumers at risk (Article 25 Bis, Federal Consumer Protection Law).

How we help: Compliant Always sets your pack beside NOM-050, so a missing importer address or origin shows up before printing. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
BrandLead and cadmium results, food use markings and the pack information.Test reports kept by article and glaze.
ManufacturerMaterials and glazes within the limits.Declarations and reports read and dated.
ImporterIts details on the pack and the evidence for imported articles.Supplier documents read and dated before the goods arrive.
RetailerSelling articles marked correctly for their use.The documents for each article, ready when asked.

Federal rules and the states

Product rules in Mexico are federal: the General Health Law, the Federal Consumer Protection Law and the Normas Oficiales Mexicanas apply across the national territory.

Health surveillance is shared. Under the General Health Law, a notice of operation (aviso de funcionamiento) goes to the Secretaría de Salud or to the government of the state (entidad federativa), and several sanitary NOMs are enforced by COFEPRIS and the state governments together.

Questions businesses ask

Which NOM limits lead in ceramics in Mexico?
NOM-231-SSA1-2016, which sets maximum soluble lead and cadmium for glazed pottery, glazed ceramics, porcelain and glass articles used with food and drink.
Does NOM-231 apply to imported tableware?
Yes. It binds those responsible for these articles, national and imported, sold in Mexico.
What if a ceramic piece exceeds the lead limit?
It carries "no usar con alimentos o bebidas, contiene plomo" in fired ceramic pigment, or has a hole of at least 2 mm in the base.
Do decorative ceramics need marking?
Yes. Decorative pieces carry the legend that they are not for use with food or drink and contain lead.
Does NOM-231 cover glass?
Yes. It covers glass articles for containing or preparing food and drink, alongside glazed pottery, ceramics and porcelain.
Are there general rules for food packaging and containers?
Yes. Under the health regulation, packaging must not release harmful substances, coatings must be non-toxic and free of heavy metals, and wood may not be primary food packaging.
Can recycled material touch food?
Only where the container is safe for the product (Article 212 of the health regulation).
What must kitchenware packaging show?
Under NOM-050: name if not visible, quantity, maker or importer name and tax address, country of origin, warnings and instructions where needed, in Spanish.
What about electrical kitchen appliances?
They follow NOM-024-SCFI-2013 for information and warranties and the electrical safety NOMs; see the electronics guide.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Mexico?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, including the Normas Oficiales Mexicanas and COFEPRIS requirements. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Mexico and what your paperwork needs to show.

Get in touch

No card, no account, and no call to book. Tell us what you make and where you sell it, and we will come back to you.

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