Mexico represents the seventh largest agri-food product importer in the world, not including the EU. There are numerous large local food companies which supply the market in Mexico, as well as the export to other countries, mainly in Latin America. In this article, our Mexico company formation agents analyze a few aspects related to manufacturing food products in Mexico.
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Legislation and institutions ensuring food safety in Mexico
When opening a company in Mexico in the food products sector, investors will need to abide by a set of rules and regulations, which are created for the purpose of ensuring food safety, the health protection of consumers and workers, etc.
The applicable legislation complies with international food safety standards. These are enforced by various institutions, such as:
- The Ministry of Health;
- The Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks;
- The Secretary of Agriculture;
- The Federal Agency for Consumers, etc.
Principles for food handling in Mexico
Regardless of the type of food product a manufacturer is processing, the employees of the respective company are required, by law, to abide by a set of principles that are created for the purpose of assuring high safety standards. These are:
- respecting cleanliness and health principles (washing hands, avoiding direct work with foods products when the employee does not feel well);
- following all the safety protocols concerning the work place (sanitization of food utensils and equipment, maintaining the entire working area clean);
- respecting temperature requirements, in accordance with the type of product;
- preparing the food in accordance with its type (by cooking or cooling);
- avoiding cross-contamination of foods products, provided that the unit manufactures a variety of goods.
Main food products manufactured in Mexico
Businessmen interested in the process of company formation in Mexico in the food manufacturing industry must know that they can find here one of the most important markets, at a global level, for this type of commercial activity. In the list below, we invite you to find out some of the highlights of the industry:
- in the South and North America region, Mexico is the 3rd most important market for the manufacture of food products;
- at a global level, it is the 15th economy;
- the food industry in Mexico accounts for an annual growth of 4.3%;
- it has a gross domestic product contribution of almost $40 billion;
- around 90% of the ingredients used for the manufacturing of food products in Mexico are sourced locally.
Concerning the types of products that are manufactured here, we mention the following:
- bakery goods;
- tortilla;
- dairy products;
- meat products.
It must be noted that the first 2 types of products account for around 25% of the entire production. Our team of specialists in company incorporation in Mexico can provide further information on the requirements imposed when investing in this industry.
Given that tortilla is made out of corn, we mention that there is a new law regulating the types of corn that can be used in the manufacturing of food products. The legislation stipulates that it is banned to grow transgenic corn (genetically modified corn) on the Mexican territory. The law entered into force on March 18th, 2025, and it transposes the provisions of the Mexican Constitution, Articles 4 and 27.
Packaging and labeling regulations in Mexico
The information related to the general labeling of products in Mexico is stipulated in the official list of standards and regulations NOM-050-SCFI-2004. According to the above-mentioned regulation, labels in Mexico have to include:
- the manufacturer’s name;
- the importer’s name;
- a component description;
- a warning on risks, if applicable;
- other details – our Mexico company registration consultants can offer all the necessary information on these.
The language which is allowed on packaging and labeling in Mexico is Spanish, however, these can also include words in other languages. The food products in Mexico have to be labeled by including the phrase “Produced in…”, “Fabricated in…” or “Made in…” or other similar sentences.
Services for company formation in Mexico
Our company formation consultants in Mexico can offer more details on other matters, such as the issuance of licenses. We can also help investors who are interested to open a company in Mexico in the food product manufacturing sector.
For professional bookkeeping and accounting services, we invite you to contact our CPA in Mexico. The services of a CPA are needed after you complete the incorporation procedure and the company starts operating. The CPA is a type of accountant that has a higher education level compared to a regular accountant, and thus, the person is also able to provide tax advice.
In case you require further information on a food product manufacturing business in Mexico, or for assistance in setting up a company in Mexico, do not hesitate to speak to our friendly staff.