In this article we will tell you what troubles you may encounter when ordering vitamins or nutritional supplements on eBay, Amazon or iHerb with delivery to Mexico.
According to the North American Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada (formerly NAFTA), the tax threshold for postal or courier items addressed to individuals is only $50, including postage. Anything more expensive must be subject to customs duty and import VAT of 16%. Although this only applies to packages sent from the United States and Canada, any package from any other country priced above $50 and delivered by courier service (DHL, Fedex, etc.) through the United States may also be subject to such taxation. This is incorrect, since the taxable threshold for shipments from third countries is $300, but Mexican customs will not look into it much.
We have specified a limit price for one reason. Mexican customs has the right to open any shipment to inspect the contents. Parcels that exceed the permitted price have a much higher chance of being opened.
Of course, not all parcels are checked, but only selectively. And if the parcel contains medicines, vitamins, food additives, bio-additives or something similar, the issue of paying customs duties will fade into the background, and you will definitely hear the word “coffeeprice”. COFEPRIS — Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks. Technically, it is illegal to bring anything into Mexico that could pose a health risk without prior approval from COFEPRIS. The list of goods for the import of which will require a sanitary certificate from the Commission is very, very large, ranging from children's toys and medical equipment to medicines and food supplements.
To purchase a permit to import medicines for personal use, you need to fill out this complexform, attach the recipes and send them to the Commission. The permit is free of charge, but when you start filling out the form, you will realize that it is better either not to get sick at all, or to buy the medicine in Mexico.
For the importation of vitamins and nutritional supplements (and for the purchase of parcels containing them), the cargo must have accompanying documents indicating the official standard of Mexico (NOM) and a health certificate issued by COFEPRIS for each type of product. Without these documents, Mexican customs does not have the right to allow goods into the country.
Only the manufacturer or distributor of the product has the right to prepare a COFEPRIS permit certificate, and the accompanying documentation must be provided to customs not by you, but by the supplier. But «Big American Brother» rarely considers it necessary to strain for the sake of retail customers from another country. Let's say on the iHerb website onpage, regarding shipping to Mexico, clearly states: «Check with your local customs office to see if you can import these items and if any other licenses or permits are required.» Thus, resolve issues with Mexican customs — Your responsibility, not iHerb's.
The situation is complicated by the fact that you can only communicate with Mexican customs through a customs agent, and not in person. We have always wondered why the delivery service calls the recipient, but issues should only be resolved through an agent. With a package costing $50, hiring a customs agent makes no sense.
If a package containing dietary supplements does not have the required supporting documentation, it must be sent back to the supplier or destroyed.
What can be done?
1. It is allowed to agree with the supplier on the return of the goods and refund of the amount paid. However, this is not always allowed. The supplier may say that there are no refunds or that they have already paid customs duties (although this is often the buyer's responsibility). The same iHerb writes that it supplies goods at a tariff of up to $50 under the terms «Aranceles e impuestos» (D&T, Duties and Taxes), which is similar to the DDP condition according to Incoterms. It’s okay that at the pre-threshold value of the goods, duties and taxes are equal to 0, but formally they are actually paid!
2. You can request from the supplier the missing supporting documentation (COFEPRIS sanitary certificate), if he has any. This is the second question, how to then transfer them to customs without the participation of a customs agent.
3. Check this onelist. It identifies products that do NOT require a COFEPRIS sanitary approval when imported into Mexico. There are many simple bio-supplements on this list.
4. If there is no COFEPRIS certificate, relax and forget about the ordered package.
Do not hope that someone will be able to negotiate with customs for you so that the parcel will be allowed through without a COFEPRIS conclusion, you will only waste time.
On each package, the attached label indicates in small letters by what date it must be purchased. As this date approaches, you will be reminded once again that you do not have enough documentation to process the parcel. If you answer that you will not receive the package, you will be asked to either donate it to the Mexican government (no joke) or sign paperwork for destruction. Mexico Post (Sepomex) does not send packages containing food additives back to the sender.
If you did not receive the package on time, the supplier will refuse a refund, citing the fact that you yourself refused to process the shipment.
Everything that is written above applies only to cases when the package was opened and food additives were found in it. If the package has not been opened, you will definitely receive it!