Today the Federal Ministry of Energy ("SENER") published in the evening edition of the Federal Official Gazette the "Agreement providing the suspension of legal terms in the Federal Ministry of Energy, as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.” ("Agreement").

Yesterday, the Federal Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources ("SEMARNAT") published in the Federal Official Gazette the "Agreement by which is informed the days that will be considered as non-business days for administrative acts and procedures before the Federal Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and its administrative-decentralized agencies.” ("Agreement").

The Federal Government just published a resolution in the Official Federal Gazette issued by the Ministry of Health adopting certain measures to mitigate and control the health risks caused by the COVID-19 virus, which could severely affect the operations of a large number of companies whose activities are not considered necessary to address the health contingency.

The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) has issued a decree stating that no terms will run from March 24 to April 19, 2020. The interruption and suspension of deadlines will not apply to procedures that are necessary to mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and those related to the release of preliminary injunctions imposed by IMPI during an infringement procedure.

Today a resolution was published in the Official Federal Gazette in which the General Health Board recognizes the epidemic caused by the virus SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) as a serious illness requiring priority attention and establishes the preparatory and response actions for the epidemic.

As the World Health Organization cataloged COVID-19 as a pandemic with a sustained risk of further spread worldwide and declared it not only a public health crisis, but a crisis in all sectors, questions automatically arise about the impact that COVID-19 will have on companies and businesses, as well as on the performance of contracts and other obligations in our country.

The Mexican Antitrust Commission (“Commission”) published a revised notice, stating the following:

The Board of the Commission, in its session held today decided that effective as of March 23, all terms will be suspended until April 17, 2020, excepting those related to merger control procedures and the issuance of opinions or decisions granting licenses, concessions, permits and similar procedures.

At Von Wobeser y Sierra, S.C., the safety and well-being of our team, clients and colleagues are our priority.

Amid the COVID-19 emergency, we are actively taking measures to adjust to the rapidly evolving news and to continue assisting our clients in a regular manner without risking our personnel’s well-being.

Today it was published in Mexico City’s Official Gazette the “Agreement by which the terms and deadlines inherent to administrative procedures are suspended and administrative facilities are granted for the fulfillment of fiscal obligations, to prevent the spread of the COVID–19 virus” (the “Agreement”).

The Board of the Mexican Antitrust Commission, in its session held today, decided that effective as of March 23, all terms will be suspended until April 17, 2020, excepting those related to merger control procedures.