Last updated: October 12, 2026
Dietary supplements, essential oils and cosmetics sell well in Mexico, but they are products regulated by the health authority. Most shipments that get stopped do not fail at customs: they fail on the permit, the label or the importer. This guide covers what to settle before the first truck leaves for Laredo.
First: who is the importer
In Mexico the importer must be a Mexican company on the importer registry and, for these products, registered with COFEPRIS, the health regulator. If your company sells delivered in Mexico and has no Mexican importer, we can handle the Mexican import. See trading company services.
What the health authority checks
- Product category. The same item can be a supplement, a cosmetic, a food or a medicine depending on its ingredients and what it claims. The category sets the process.
- Health permit or notice. Dietary supplements need a prior sanitary import permit. The application usually asks for a certificate of free sale from the country of origin and a product analysis.
- Ingredients. Mexico keeps lists of plants and substances that are banned or restricted in supplements. A formula allowed in the United States may not be allowed in Mexico.
- What the label claims. A supplement or cosmetic cannot claim to treat or cure. If it does, it is treated as a medicine.
Spanish labeling
The product needs a Spanish label that follows the standard for its category: NOM-141 for cosmetics, and the health labeling rules for supplements. Many shippers apply the label in a warehouse on the U.S. side before the crossing. See Mexican official standards and the Laredo 3PL warehouse.
Customs and taxes
- Tariff classification. It sets the duty and the permits. See tariff classification.
- USMCA. If the product qualifies as originating, it can enter duty free with the certification of origin. See rules of origin.
- VAT. As a general rule 16% is paid at import. Estimate the total with the import tax calculator.
- U.S. side. The export is filed electronically when the value per line is over 2,500 dollars.
Essential oils, perfumes and aerosols
Many essential oils, perfumes, nail polishes and aerosols are flammable and ship as hazardous materials. At Laredo that freight crosses at the Colombia bridge and needs the right safety data sheet, packaging and documents. See hazmat through the Colombia bridge.
How we handle it at Eilan
- Review before the first shipment. Category, permits and label are checked before the goods leave.
- One team on both sides. U.S. and Mexican customs at Laredo, Nuevo Laredo and the Colombia bridge, for more than 30 years.
- Warehouse in Laredo. 200,000 sq ft to receive, check and consolidate before the crossing.
See in one minute which documents are missing with the pre-crossing document check.
Frequently asked questions
Do cosmetics need a health registration in Mexico?
As a general rule they do not carry a registration the way medicines do, but the importer must be registered with COFEPRIS and the product must meet the ingredient and labeling rules.
Can I send samples without a permit?
Samples also go through customs and health regulation. Ask before you ship them.
How long does the health permit take?
It depends on the product and the authority. That is why it should be obtained before the shipment is scheduled, not when the goods are already at the border.
Let’s talk about your product
Tell us which products you ship, where they ship from and who receives them in Mexico. Contact us or call +1 (956) 717-4150, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Central. More guides in trade guides.
General information guide. Requirements depend on the product, its ingredients and its use; confirm each case before shipping.