4. Labeling Requirements

Animal Feed
Mexico

This section provides information on labeling requirements and the label approval process.

4.1 Mandatory Labeling Parameters

General Feed

Products for animal consumption under the category of deregulated products must comply with the labeling requirements established in item 8.2 Mexican Official Standard NOM-012-ZOO-1993 [1,2]. 

Labeling requirements for imported products [2]:

1. Commercial name of the product.
2. The net content of the product, which must be expressed in units of the Decimal Metric System or recognized international units.
3. The statement "veterinary use” or "Food for…" indicating the species for which it is intended.
4. Information on country of origin, manufacturer, and importer as follows: "Manufactured by" and "Imported and distributed by" (indicating the name and address of both companies). In the case of imported products manufactured by maquila: "Made in..." indicating the name of the country of origin of the product, "for…", indicating the name and address of the company holding the product, or "Manufactured for..." indicating the name and address of the company holding the product.
5. Description of formulation. The guaranteed levels must be included indicating the minimum and maximum amounts of the nutritional ingredients.
6. The statement "Consult a Veterinarian" (in Spanish “Consulte a un Medico Veterinario") must appear on the label.
7. Lot number.
8. Expiration date must indicate the month with the first three letters of its name and the year in digits or be indicated with the number of the month and the year with the last two digits in this order.
9. Indications: the use, species, and application must be expressed clearly and with terminology of common use. 
10. Dose in units of the Decimal Metric System or in established international units.
11. Route of administration, specifying that it is oral. The corresponding statement is "Administración oral" in Spanish to be on the label. 

Category

The category of "Finished products containing only vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or a combination of these and for oral administration" should comply with Section 4.1 on “General Feed” above.

Product

"Products containing amino acids" should comply with Section 4.1 on “General Feed” above.

4.2 Languages

The information on the labeling of imported food products must be in Spanish. [2]

4.3 Mandatory Information on Stickers

In the case of imported products that are not labeled at origin, they must be labeled before or after importation and prior to marketing, in accordance with Mexican regulations [2]. After contacting authorities from SENASICA [3], it is understood that the use of stickers is allowed in imported products. 

4.4 Product Legal Name

There is no product legal name for the overall category of "General Feed". Refer to the below section for info on product legal names for specific products.

Product

Contacted authorities from SENASICA [3] mentioned that the product of interest (non-medicated product) will be classified as a "Product exempt from registration or authorization/Food for animal consumption containing amino acids". However, they also mentioned that it is the Authorized Responsible Veterinarian of the importing company who will propose a descriptive name ensuring that this meets the labeling requirements established in the Mexican regulation. The product's legal name must be the one that best describes the nature of the product, as well as its intended use since the classification only impacts the terms of determining whether or not the registration/authorization is required by the health authority. 

"Product containing amino acids", "amino acids", or others describing the nature of the product can be used.

4.5 Product-specific Labeling Statements

There are no product-specific labeling statements for the overall category of “General Feed”. Refer to the below category and product-specific labeling statements. 

Category [1,2]

• "Feed for..." ("Alimento para...") indicating the species for which it is intended.
• "Consult a Veterinarian" ("Consulte a un Medico Veterinario" in Spanish) must appear on the label.

In addition, these products shall NOT bear on the labeling the statements: 

• Release Certificate (Oficio de Liberación)
• Official number (Número de oficio)
• Exempt from Registration (Exento de Registro)

Product

"Products containing amino acids" should comply with Section 4.5 - “Category” above.

4.6 Authority Approval

General Feed

No, after contacting authorities from SENASICA [3], it is understood that the label is not subject to approval. However, the product must comply with the Mexican rules on labeling prior to commercialization. [1]

Category

The category of "Finished products containing only vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or a combination of these and for oral administration" should comply with the above requirements in Section 4.6 on authority approval for “General Feed”.

Product

"Products containing amino acids" should comply with the above requirements in Section 4.6 on authority approval for “General Feed”. 

4.7 Additional Notes on Labeling

General Feed

Statements, graphic representations, or designs on the product label must be clearly visible and legible, avoiding the use of drawings or statements that confuse or induce the misuse of the product.

The language should be clear, simple, and free of ideas that could lead to the possible exaggeration of the real quality of the product, avoiding the use of extensive terms such as: "some, almost all, most" or pejorative terms such as "the only one, the best". [2]

Category

The category of "Finished products containing only vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or a combination of these and for oral administration" should comply with the additional notes for “General Feed” in Section 4.7 above.

Product

"Products containing amino acids" should comply with the additional notes for “General Feed” in Section 4.7 above.

4.8 References

1. SENASICA - Communication DSCP 004/2014. Quick guide to identify criteria for deregulation of non-medicated products for animal use or consumption

https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/294700/Circular_DSCP_004_2014_Productos_exentos_de_registro_o_autorizaci_n.pdf

2. MODIFICATION to the Mexican Official Standard NOM-012-ZOO-1993, Specifications for the regulation of chemical, pharmaceutical, biological and food products for use in animals or consumption by them(Official Gazette of the Federation 27/05/2014).

https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/202293/Modificaci_n_C_NOM-012-ZOO-1993_270104.pdf

3. Contact with the authority (SENASICA)