NOM-051 (Mexico): front-of-pack warning seals and mandatory labeling
What NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 and its 2020 amendment require: the five seals, the two legends, phase-3 thresholds, restrictions on children's marketing and the general labeling rules.
Este artigo está disponível em inglês e espanhol.
NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 is Mexico's general standard for labeling prepackaged food and non-alcoholic beverages. Its 2020 amendment (published in the Diario Oficial on 27 March 2020) introduced the front-of-pack warning system that has become a reference in Latin America. Compliance was phased: 1 October 2020 (phase 1), 1 October 2023 (phase 2) and 1 October 2025 (phase 3, the strictest thresholds, now in force).
The five seals and two legends
Products that exceed the thresholds must show black octagonal seals on the upper right of the principal display surface, one per nutrient exceeded:
- EXCESO CALORÍAS
- EXCESO AZÚCARES
- EXCESO GRASAS SATURADAS
- EXCESO GRASAS TRANS
- EXCESO SODIO
Two rectangular legends complete the system: "CONTIENE CAFEÍNA – EVITAR EN NIÑOS" for any added caffeine, and "CONTIENE EDULCORANTES – NO RECOMENDABLE EN NIÑOS" for any added sweetener. Seals must be in Spanish, in the exact typography and proportions of the standard, and their size scales with the display surface. Packages with a very small surface may use a single seal with the number of excesses, and packages under a minimum area are exempt from the front seals but not from the information.
Phase 3 thresholds (from 1 October 2025)
| Nutrient | Solids (per 100 g) | Liquids (per 100 mL) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | ≥ 275 kcal | ≥ 70 kcal (or ≥ 8 kcal from added sugars) |
| Added sugars | ≥ 10% of total energy | ≥ 10% of total energy |
| Saturated fat | ≥ 10% of total energy | ≥ 10% of total energy |
| Trans fat | ≥ 1% of total energy | ≥ 1% of total energy |
| Sodium | ≥ 1 mg per kcal, or ≥ 300 mg | ≥ 45 mg in non-caloric beverages |
Always confirm figures against the current text of the standard and its official interpretation criteria, since the thresholds were designed to tighten by phase and the authority (COFEPRIS/PROFECO) publishes clarifications.
Marketing restrictions when seals apply
A product carrying one or more seals or legends may not display on its packaging children's characters, animations, cartoons, celebrities, athletes, pets, or interactive elements such as games or downloads aimed at children, nor make nutritional claims about the nutrients in excess. Seals may not be covered by stickers, except the legally required importer label under strict conditions.
General mandatory information
- Denominación (name of the product) and brand, in Spanish.
- Ingredient list in descending order by weight, with allergens declared ("Contiene…") and added sugars identified.
- Net content per NOM-030-SCFI (metric units, on the principal surface).
- Name and address of the responsible party; for imports, the importer's details.
- Country of origin.
- Lot identification and expiration or best-before date, in a permanent, legible form.
- Nutritional information table per 100 g/mL and per package or serving, plus the front seals.
- Storage and preparation instructions when needed for safe use.
How EtikStudio handles this
NOM-051 templates include the seals and legends as vector objects at the exact proportions of the standard, sized automatically from the label area. The seals are driven by data: enter the nutritional values per 100 g/mL and the template shows only the seals that apply, so a reformulation that drops below a threshold removes the seal without a designer touching the file. Lot and date come from your system, and versions are kept for PROFECO verifications.
Este guia é informativo e não constitui aconselhamento jurídico. As normas mudam; verifique sempre o texto oficial vigente antes de imprimir.