General Bureau of Standards DGN by its Spanish

General Bureau of Standards (DGN, by its Spanish Acronym) Mexico´s Secretary of Economy Highlights IWTS 2017 Kirkland, Washington Karla Fernández Sánchez Director of International Standardization

History Prior to 1992 all standardization activities were done by the government, but since the Reform of the Federal Metrology and Standardization Act (LFMN), the system incorporated third parties such as National Standardization Bodies in charge or voluntary standards. Mexico´s economy was protectionist at that time, so standards were not as ambitious as they are now. Two decades later, Mexico began to participate more in technical meetings of international organizations, these gave Mexico the opportunity to adopt a more aggressive standardization approach by embracing international best practices.

Federal Metrology and Standardization Act (1992) Objectives Foster products and services quality Coordination of SISMENEC Integrate the Annual National Standardization Program Promote the use and compliance of technical regulations and standards Play a useful role as intermediary between industry and entities related to trade and standardization

Mexican System of Metrology, Standardization and Conformity Assessment (SISMENEC, by its Spanish Acronym) Metrology Standarization SISMENEC Accreditation Conformity assessment

Mandatory Legal Structure Const. Law Reg. FTA Treaties Congress Government Agencies Technical Regulations (NOM) Standards (NMX) Voluntary Private Sector

Federal Metrology and Standardization Act Standardization Principles: • mandatory (STATE) • voluntary (Private & Public) • International v Quality Infrastructure v Participation at International Std Organizations v Competitiveness in national and international trade.

Role of the General Bureau of Standards National Standardization Program Coordinates the National Standardization Bodies National Advisory Committee/ Technical Secretary of the National Standardization Commission Approves National Accreditation Entities Contac Point for International Standardization Organizations Represents Mexico in diffrent Organizations regarding standards and conformance National International

NOM (Technical Regulations) Requirements, technical specifications, guidelines or characteristics that might be used consistently to assure that materials, products, processes or services provide quality and are safe. NOM • Domestically known as Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (NOMs). • Mandatory Compliance • Issued by the Government • Rely upon the definition of Technical Regulations • Some are required by customs • They are free and public • They provide support for appelation of origin

NMX (Standards) • • • Voluntary Developed by National Standardization Bodies (private) and DGN Internationally known as “standards” Provide businesses competitiveness Most of them have an economic cost They inform the consumer, protect the environment, avoid health risks and give better access to technological progress. • They give certainty of the quality and safety of products • Facilitate competitiveness

Current Publications Both technical regulations and standards are revised each five years. In force Official Mexican Standards (NOM) 959 Mexican Standards (NMX) 5165 International Standards 27, 693 • Mexico uses international standards as a reference for its own technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures. • Mexico has undertaken a process of active participation in the promotion of harmonization with international standards, as a way of solving technical problems within national standards committees to foster national industry and facilitate international trade.

Mexican Standardization Authorities

Mexican National Standardization Bodies

Conformity Assessment The process used to prove that a service, product or system complies with the requirements of a standard. In order to be recognized as a Conformity Assessment Body, you have to be accredited by the Mexican accreditation entity Approval Authorization Certification Verification Accreditation: The Mexican Accreditation Entity (ema) bases its requirements on international standards and guidelines ISO / IEC and is evaluated by their peers from other countries through international accreditation organizations.

Market Surveillance • The Metrology and Standardization Federal Act doesn´t allow the recognition nor the issuance of supplier´s self declaration of conformity. • The most common type of CAP is by a Third Party. • The Office of the Consumer Protection Federal Attorney in charge of making a verification activities (market surveillance) after the certification has been granted to a product.

SECRETARY OF ECONOMY, VICE SECRETARY FOR COMPETITIVENESS AND REGULATION , GENERAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS Karla Fernández Sánchez Director of International Standardization karla. fernandez@economía. gob. mx Tel: 5729 9100 Ext. 43205