The Mexican government has announced a plan to tighten import regulations carried out through electronic commerce platforms, such as Temu and Shein.
Starting January 2025, the number of shipments per recipient will be limited to ten per monthand the products must comply with the Official Mexican Standards (NOMs) to ensure consumer protection. This measure seeks to control the flow of goods entering the country and guarantee that products meet established security and information standards.
Impact on e-commerce and international platforms
This new regulation will mainly affect users who make frequent purchases on low-cost platforms such as Temu and Sheinwhich have experienced exponential growth in recent years.
These platforms offer products at competitive prices, mainly from China, and have managed to position themselves in the Mexican market thanks to their simplified import model. However, with these new rules, the entry of products that do not comply with the NOMs will be limited, which could disincentivize consumers and seriously affect these platforms.
The plan includes the mandatory collection of the Federal Taxpayer Registry (RFC) or the Unique Population Registry Code (CURP) for recipients of imported products, information that must be provided to the courier companies in charge of transporting and delivering the goods. .
Besides, E-commerce platforms will be required to include explicit notices about the origin of the merchandise and adhere to stricter standards for customer service, returns, and dispute resolution. This seeks to improve the traceability of products and offer greater security to Mexican consumers.
Consumer protection and stricter rules
One of the critical points of this regulation is ensure that imported products comply with the Federal Consumer Protection Law. The platforms must include clear commercial information in Spanish about the use, ingredients or materials of the products, which was not mandatory before. Failure to comply with these regulations could lead to sanctions, mainly affecting sellers who do not adjust their practices to the new regulatory framework.
The rise of digital trade between Mexico and China has been significant in recent years. Imports of products, especially textiles and electronic goods, have grown on a large scale since the start of the pandemic, which has worried local industries. In fact, the National Chamber of the Clothing Industry (Canaive) has denounced unfair competition from platforms such as Shein and Temu. These platforms, by offering products at very low prices, have captured a large part of the market, affecting the national textile industry.
The entry into force of these new regulations could slow down this growth and make it difficult for Mexican consumers to access low-cost international products. Furthermore, by raising import requirements, e-commerce platforms could face additional costs, which would directly impact the prices offered to the final consumer.
Mexico is taking measures to regulate and protect both consumers and the local industry. While these new rules seek to encourage greater transparency and regulatory compliance, they also present important challenges for international e-commercewhich will have to modify its practices to remain competitive in this expanding market.
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