Australia Shipping - Import Regulations

Import Regulations – Mexico

The Australia-Mexico bilateral economic and trade relationship is in very good shape. In financial year 2007 – 2008 Mexico was Australia’s second largest merchandise trading partner in Latin America (just behind Brazil). Two-way trade was worth $1,75 billion. Generally, Australia’s merchandise exports to Mexico are valued at approximately $550 million. Coal, meat, dairy products, leather live animals and a growing range of services are exported to Mexico. Besides, Australian food and wine brands are increasingly on sale in Mexico. Coal is Australia’s largest single export to Mexico, having doubled from 2,1 million tonnes in 2004 to 4,4 million tonnes in the 2007 calendar year (worth US$ 234 million).

The General Import Tax Law of Mexico sets out general, specific and mixed tariff rates. 3 per cent, 8 per cent, 13 per cent, 18 per cent, 23 per cent and 35 per cent are the general rates (ad valorem). The specific rates are established according to unit of merchandise. Mixed rates are applied to some products from sensitive sectors, such as sugar, flour, etc. They are part ad valorem and part specific rates.

Product certification, labeling and packaging
Livestock and animal products require sanitary certificates issued by agricultural authorities in Australia. Alcoholic beverages must be accompanied by a certificate stating alcoholic strength, as determined by the Gay Lussac Scale. Spirits may require for a certificate of age. Phytosanitary certificates are required for all kinds of agricultural seeds and other products intended for sowing and propagation. It must describe the origin of the goods.

All products intended for retail sale in Mexico prior to their importation must bear a label with the following information in Spanish:
• name of the business name of the exporter;
• name of the business name and address of the importers;
• trademark or commercial name brand of the product;
• warnings or precautions on hazardous products;
• use, handling and care instructions for the product as required;
• net contents.

As tariff charges are levied on gross weight for many items, packing should be as light as possible, commensurate with security.

Documentary requirements
The “pedimento de importacion” is the basic import document. It must be accompanied by commercial invoice (in Spanish), a bill of lading, documents demonstrating guarantee of payment of additional duties and documents demonstrating compliance with the Mexican product safety, if applicable. For tax purposes all Mexican importers must apply “Padron the Importadores”.

The certificate of origin must be presented with the shipment at the point of entry in order for the goods to receive preferential tariff treatment and to avoid payment of compensatory quotas.

Bill of lading should include the names, telephone numbers and contact information of the Mexican customs broker and the freight forwarder.

The exporter must issue 6 copies of packing list. It must include the exact description of the merchandise, its weight, volume and value. The information must coincide with the description in the commercial invoice.