On November 5, 2026, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) published an Agreement in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) revising the schedule for the Labor Certificate for Agro-Exports (CLA) applicable to avocados, amending Sections Five, Seven, Eight, and Nine and adding Section Eighteen.
The main change extends the validity of the Phase 2 CLA through March 7, 2027, and adjusts Phases 3 and 4. The transition to the permanent regime remains scheduled for November 2027.
What changed on november 5, 2026?
The amendment allows additional time to register information on growers, orchards, and other value-chain participants in VELAGRO, and to enable future interoperability with the Avocado Export Traceability Information System (SITAEX).
Key highlights / updated timeline
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PHASE 2 | VALUE CHAIN REGISTRATION
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Application: November 1–7, 2026 | CLA validity: Nov 1, 2026–Mar 7, 2027
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PHASE 3 | IMSS EMPLOYER REGISTRATIONS · Applications: 1st–7th of each month in 2027
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MARCH
25%
CLA: Mar 1–Apr 7
Assessment: February
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APRIL
50%
CLA: Apr 1–May 7
Assessment: March
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MAY
75%
CLA: May 1–Jun 7
Assessment: April
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JUNE
100%
CLA: Jun 1–Jul 7
Assessment: May
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PHASE 4 | TECHNICAL FACTOR · Applications: 1st–7th of each month in 2027
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JULY
25%
CLA: Jul 1–Aug 7
Assessment: June
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AUGUST
50%
CLA: Aug 1–Sep 7
Assessment: July
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SEPTEMBER
75%
CLA: Sep 1–Oct 7
Assessment: August
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OCTOBER
100%
CLA: Oct 1–Nov 7
Assessment: September
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PHASE 5 | TRANSITION TO PERMANENT REGIME
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Application: November 1–7, 2027 | CLA validity: Nov 1, 2027–Feb 7, 2028
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Integrating VELAGRO with SITAEX (scheduled for December 31, 2026) will facilitate data exchange. STPS may issue CLAs without classification and with different validity periods. The Agreement took effect on November 5, 2026.
Immediate implications for foreign trade
The changes revise the avocado pilot program schedule; they do not eliminate the requirement to obtain a CLA where applicable or change the November 2027 transition. Companies must maintain traceability and supporting evidence of labor and social security compliance.
For avocado growers, packers, traders, and exporters, we recommend:
- Verify the registration of growers, orchards, and other value-chain participants in VELAGRO.
- Reconcile IMSS employer registrations and plan their phased inclusion from 25% to 100% between March and June 2027.
- Prepare supporting evidence for the phased application of the technical factor between July and October 2027.
- Monitor the launch of SITAEX and any new STPS criteria.
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
