May 22, 2019

Draft USDEC Milk Powder Laboratory Registration Comments Posted for Member Feedback

A summary of USDEC's draft comments to the Mexican draft laboratory registration procedures published through WTO notification G/TBT/N/MEX/391/Add.3 is available here. We welcome member feedback on this draft by Friday, May 24, 12 pm ET/ 9 am PT.

April 10, 2019

Mexican Government Publishes Draft Milk Powder Laboratory Registration Procedures 

On April 8, Mexico's government issued WTO Notification G/TBT/N/MEX/391/Add.3 to solicit comments on the draft laboratory registration requirements for NOM-222, the new milk powder regulation issued January 31. USDEC will be filing comments on behalf of membership, and requests feedback on the proposals. Please send comments to Sandra Benson at sbenson@usdec.org by May 3 to ensure proper time for incorporation and translation.

As noted in the summary of the new NOM in the Hot Topic entitled "Mexico Final Milk Powder as a Raw Material Technical Regulation Published" of February 14, when the NOM enters into force next year, a test report with the results of the compositional parameters in tables 1 and 2 of the regulation (except casein) will be required for each lot of milk powder. The laboratories running these tests must be recognized and registered with Mexico's government.

Click here to access the draft laboratory registration requirements. The English text starts on page 10. Please note that USDEC has made additional comments to members on the proposal in red font.

The WTO notification also refers to a second guidance document on the submission of the test report to Mexico's General Directorate of Norms (DGN) for national production. However, in the case of imports, part 8.3 of NOM-222 states that the importer will submit the test report to Mexico's Customs authority. There are no additional instructions on test report submission for imports in this WTO notification.

Contact Sandra Benson with any questions or to provide feedback on the proposal.