On July 25, 2023, the Official Gazette of the Federation [in Spanish: el Diario Oficial de la Federación], (DOF), published the third amended ruling concerning General Regulations Pertaining to Foreign Trade for 2023, and Exhibit 1 on August 03 of the same year, which had an impact on the information as described in the security profiles of the 9 categories in the Authorized Economic Operator and Authorized Trading Partner   Agreement [in Spanish: las Modalidades del Operador Económico Autorizado y Socio Comercial Autorizado]. 

The beginning of this change was subsequent to the meetings that took place by the CBP and the Tax Administration Service [in Spanish: SAT] at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, in which an analysis was performed to assess characteristic changes in both the benefits and the wording of the security guidelines, in order to comply with the Security Profile in their 9 respective categories.

Among the main changes, the following are mentioned:

• The creation of a Safety Engagement Committee of senior management. 
• The development of contingency plans regarding economic crisis per geographical and social zone, among others.
• Accuracy of information that must be in log books and registries of a certain criteria. 
• Accuracy of search criteria in order to maintain a commercial relationship with clients and suppliers.
• Broadening of information in order to describe it in a process map and to assess critical partners.
• Compliance with pest control procedures with regard to the use of wood packaging materials (such as pallets, boxes, crates, cages, reels, racks, cable grips, brackets, or platforms). 
• Notification of any defects or unusual structural modifications as a result of having opened during transit and en route by some authority.
• Awareness in preventing visible contamination caused by pests. Personnel that operate and manage safety technology systems must receive work-related training with respect to their operation and maintenance. 

Changes in the security profiles must be ready on the following dates:

I. Companies that are validly registered in the Company Certification Scheme of Authorized Economic Operators or the Authorized Trading Partner Agreement [in Spanish: el Esquema de Certificación de Empresas modalidades de Operador Económico Autorizado o Socio Comercial Certificado]. Any category they are in must comply with a six-month update as of the publication of this Ruling, and must comply what is established in regulation 7.2.1., third and fourth paragraphs, as indicated in the registry. 

II. Companies that have applications in the Company Certification Scheme of Authorized Economic Operators or the Authorized Trading Partner Agreement. Any category in which the date of publication of this ruling is pending, that is, six months from the day in which the registration was accepted, and as such, must comply with what is established in regulation 7.2.1., third and fourth paragraphs, as indicated in the registry.    

Therefore, it is important to perform an update of your procedures and applicable forms in order to comply with the security profile updates for each facility and to proceed with the proper filing with the authorities for January 2024.

Please contact us if you wish to receive any additional information. We will gladly assist you in addressing any doubts you may have regarding this or any other foreign trade matter: contacto@jadelrio.com.