On October 1, 2026, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) and the Ministry of Economy published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) the Agreement subjecting certain exports to the Labor Certificate for Agro-Exports (CLA). The measure applies to avocados classified under tariff item 0804.40.01, NICO 00.

In practical terms, exporters of these goods must obtain the CLA through VELAGRO and declare it in the customs declaration at the time of customs clearance. The Agreement became effective on October 1, 2026, and recognizes as valid the CLA certificates requested and issued through VELAGRO as of September 15, 2026.

What happened on October 1, 2026?

The Agreement introduces a non-tariff regulation applicable to the export of goods listed in its Sole Annex. The CLA is issued to a named holder and is non-transferable; it is issued by the STPS through VELAGRO and certifies compliance with labor and social security obligations of the persons involved in the value chain of agricultural products intended for export.

For goods subject to the requirement, the CLA must be transmitted as a digital or electronic document attached to the corresponding customs declaration and declared at the time of customs clearance. Currently, the Sole Annex identifies only tariff item 0804.40.01, NICO 00, corresponding to avocados.

Key points

Legal basis: Article 283 Quater of the Federal Labor Law. The Agreement does not replace other requirements or regulations applicable to exports.

Immediate foreign trade implications

As of its effective date, exports of avocados classified under tariff item 0804.40.01, NICO 00 require the corresponding CLA. It must be obtained through VELAGRO and declared and transmitted with the customs declaration.

For avocado exporters, we recommend reviewing:

• Confirm the tariff classification and NICO of the goods to identify transactions subject to the Agreement.
• Obtain the CLA through VELAGRO in a timely manner and verify that it corresponds to the transaction to be cleared.
• Coordinate with the customs broker to declare and transmit it with the customs declaration, and include it in the foreign trade file.

Conclusions

As of October 1, 2026, exports of avocados classified under tariff item 0804.40.01, NICO 00 are subject to the CLA. The requirement must be met as part of customs clearance, without replacing the other regulations applicable to the transaction.

Source: Official Gazette of the Federation, October 1, 2026. VIEW OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

J.A. DEL RÍO offers a wide array of specialized consulting services to assist you with these and other matters, in order to ensure that your project complies with the applicable characteristics  contained in this agreement.

If you have any questions, J.A. DEL RÍO can provide you with our experts to advise in matters concerning compliance with your legal and tax obligations. Once again, please let us know if we may be of any further assistance to you at: contacto@jadelrio.com.