Cargo Systems Messaging Service

CSMS # 64529154 - NMFS Certification of Admissibility Update: Newly Designated Officials for the Government of Mexico

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published an updated list of designated officials from the Government of Mexico to sign Certifications of Admissibility for certain seafood products imported into the United States. The new list of Government of Mexico officials is available at the NMFS website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2025-03/OFFICIALS_DESIGNATED_CERTIFICATIONS_ADMISSIBILITY_2025.pdf.

While most of the designated officials remain the same, the following states have new or modified officials:

• Baja California
• Ciudad de México 

NMFS requests that CBP accept Certifications of Admissibility previously signed by former officials designated by the Government of Mexico until June 1, 2025. More information on the NMFS seafood import restrictions is available online: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/foreign/marine-mammal-protection/seafood-import-restrictions.

In 2018, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS imposed import restrictions on designated fish products caught in certain Mexican fisheries operating in the Upper Gulf of California to protect the vaquita, a species of porpoise endemic to the area. NMFS posts information on the import restrictions and entry requirements for the designated fish products originating in Mexico online: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov//foreign/marine-mammal-protection/seafood-import-restrictions.

Shipments filed under the listed HTS codes are eligible for entry only if accompanied by a Certification of Admissibility signed by an official designated by the Government of Mexico. Entries from Mexico are inadmissible if using a designated HTS code not accompanied by the Certification of Admissibility. The list of HTS codes is available online: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2024-10/FY25-MX-MMPA-HTS-Codes.pdf.

NMFS is available to assist importers and the trade community with questions on these import restrictions. Questions on these import restrictions, the affected fish products, or Certification of Admissibility can be directed to NMFS at trademonitoring.support@noaa.gov.

Related messages: CSMS# 19-000303 (2019), CSMS #51756875 (2022), and CSMS # 62775668 (2024)