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Selling toys in Mexico

In Mexico, toys carry the commercial information of NOM-015-SCFI-2007, in Spanish, including the recommended age, the importer and any batteries needed. Toys for children up to 12 years and preschool school articles meet NOM-252-SSA1-2011 limits on bioavailable lead, with further metal limits for under-threes. PROFECO and the Secretaría de Economía enforce.

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

Labelling
NOM-015-SCFI-2007, in force from 17 January 2009
Heavy metals
NOM-252-SSA1-2011
Lead limit
90 mg/kg bioavailable, toys for children up to 12
Small parts
Warning for under-fives; none in toys for children up to 3
Language
Spanish for the mandatory information
Enforcement
Secretaría de Economía and PROFECO

Before a product goes on sale

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

  1. 1Is it a toy under NOM-015, or a firearm replica under another NOM? Read more
  2. 2Does the pack show the mandatory information in Spanish, including the age and batteries? Read more
  3. 3Which warnings does the toy type need? Read more
  4. 4Do test reports show lead and other metals within the NOM-252 limits? Read more
  5. 5Is it electronic, and does an electrical NOM apply too? Read more

The rules, by area

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

Commercial labelling under NOM-015

The information every toy sold in Mexico carries.

  • NOM-015-SCFI-2007 (Información comercial-Etiquetado para juguetes) applies to toys of any material, including battery-powered toys, sold in Mexico; firearm replicas fall under NOM-161-SCFI-2003 instead.
  • A toy is any product designed and made to be used for play or entertainment, actively or passively (4.13).
  • The mandatory information is: the generic name where not obvious, the quantity, the manufacturer's name and tax address for national products, the country of origin, the importer's name and tax address for imports, the age recommended by the manufacturer, and the type and number of batteries or the electrical rating (5.1.2).
  • The importer's details may be added in Mexico after customs clearance and before sale (5.1.2 e).
  • The mandatory information is given in Spanish, and may also be given in other languages (5.1.3).
  • Toys for assembly come with assembly instructions, and say clearly where an adult should assemble them (5.2.1).

How we help: Compliant Always sets your packaging beside each item of NOM-015, so a missing age statement or importer address shows up before shipment. Ask about this

Warnings by toy type

The specific legends some toys need.

  • Small-parts warnings appear only where the toy has such parts and is meant for children under five; toys for children up to 3 must not contain small parts (6.3).
  • Toys with projectiles warn not to use other projectiles and not to fire at people or animals (5.2.3).
  • Inflatable water toys carry an indelible legend, at least 1.5 mm high, that they are toys to be used under adult supervision (5.2.7).
  • Imitation protective equipment states that it gives no protection, for example "Esto es un juguete. No proporciona seguridad" (5.2.5).
  • Costumes, and play tents and houses, carry a warning not to use them near fire (5.2.10 and 5.2.11).
  • Science kits label each chemical with its name, quantity and concentration, and carry precautionary legends at least 1.5 mm high (5.2.9).

How we help: Compliant Always lists the warnings your toy type needs and checks that the pack and instructions carry them. Ask about this

Lead and other heavy metals

The limits on metals that a child could take in from a toy.

  • NOM-252-SSA1-2011 sets a limit on bioavailable lead for toys for children up to 12 years and for school articles for preschoolers (1.1.1).
  • Toys for children under three and preschool school articles also meet limits for antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, mercury and selenium (1.1.2).
  • For most toy materials the limits in mg/kg are antimony 60, arsenic 25, barium 1,000, cadmium 75, chromium 60, lead 90, mercury 60 and selenium 500; modelling clay and finger paint have lower limits for barium, cadmium, chromium and mercury (Table 1).
  • The NOM binds those who make, import or sell these products in Mexico; mass-pigmented toys, packaging, playground equipment and large ride-on toys are among the exclusions (1.2).
  • COFEPRIS and the state governments oversee compliance (section 10).

How we help: Upload a lab report and Compliant Always reads each metal against the NOM-252 limits, with the material tested beside each result. Ask about this

Electronic toys

Where an electrical or electronic NOM also applies.

  • NOM-001-SCFI-2018 on the safety of electronic equipment lists electronic toys and video games among the equipment it covers.
  • Where a certification body exists for it, conformity with NOM-001-SCFI-2018 is certified by an accredited and authorised product certification body (section 6).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the certificate of conformity and the test reports behind it with the toy, and shows when they expire. Ask about this

Instructions, warranties and enforcement

What goes with the toy, and who checks it.

  • Toys come with instructions or have them on the pack, without extra charge, where the manufacturer so decides, covering normal use, care and safe handling (6.2).
  • A warranty is optional; where one is offered, it follows the Federal Consumer Protection Law (6.4).
  • The Secretaría de Economía and PROFECO enforce NOM-015 (section 7).
  • PROFECO may order products withdrawn, issue alerts and order recalls of products with defects that put consumers at risk (Article 25 Bis, Federal Consumer Protection Law).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the instructions, warranty text and test reports for each toy in one place. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
BrandThe pack information, age grading and warnings.Packaging checked against NOM-015, with the evidence behind it.
ManufacturerMaterials within the NOM-252 limits, and the test evidence.Test reports kept by product and material.
ImporterIts name and tax address on the toy, and the information authorities request.Supplier documents read and dated before the goods arrive.
RetailerSelling toys that carry the required information.The documents for each toy, 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 sets toy labelling in Mexico?
NOM-015-SCFI-2007, Información comercial-Etiquetado para juguetes, published in the DOF on 17 April 2008 and in force from 17 January 2009.
What must a toy label show in Mexico?
The generic name where not obvious, quantity, maker or importer name and tax address, country of origin, recommended age, and the batteries or electrical rating needed (NOM-015, 5.1.2).
Must toy labels be in Spanish?
Yes. The mandatory information is given in Spanish, and may also be given in other languages (NOM-015, 5.1.3).
When is a small-parts warning needed on toys?
Where the toy contains small parts and is meant for children under five. Toys for children up to 3 must not contain small parts (NOM-015, 6.3).
What is the lead limit for toys in Mexico?
90 mg/kg of bioavailable lead for toys for children up to 12 years and preschool school articles (NOM-252-SSA1-2011, Table 1).
Which other metals are limited in toys?
Antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, mercury and selenium, for toys for children under three and preschool school articles that may be sucked, licked or swallowed (NOM-252, 1.1.2).
Can an importer add its details after the toys arrive?
Yes. The importer's name and tax address may be added in Mexico after customs clearance and before sale (NOM-015, 5.1.2 e).
Do electronic toys need certification in Mexico?
NOM-001-SCFI-2018 covers electronic toys and video games, and its conformity is certified by an accredited, authorised certification body where one exists.
Is a warranty required for toys?
No. A warranty is optional; where offered, it follows the Federal Consumer Protection Law (NOM-015, 6.4).
Who enforces toy rules in Mexico?
The Secretaría de Economía and PROFECO enforce NOM-015. NOM-252 is overseen by the Secretaría de Salud through COFEPRIS and by the state governments (section 10).
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.

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