On April 6, 2020, the Federal Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources ("SEMARNAT") published in the Federal Official Gazette the "Agreement that enable business days and hours for the indicated administrative entities, in order to perform administrative acts regarding the acts and procedures referred” (the “Agreement”).
The Agreement enables business days and hours to perform administrative acts by and before SEMARNAT in certain matters and procedures referred in the Agreement. Likewise, it defines certain procedures and activities that will not be subject to the suspension of legal terms originally established in 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” published in the Federal Official Gazette on March 24, 2020.
Therefore, the Agreement refers the following:
| Matter | Unit | Business days and hours enabled | Acts and procedures |
| Forestry | I. Forestry and Soil Management General Direction. II. Federal Delegations of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. | From 10:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. of the 24, 26 and 31 of March, and 02, 07, 14 and 16 of April of 2020. | a) Forestry referrals’ request to evidence the legal origin of forestry raw materials. (Mode A. First time and Mode B. Renewal.) b) Forestry re-shipment´s request to evidence the legal origin of forestry raw materials. (Mode A. First time and Mode B. Renewal.) c) Phytosanitary Import Certificate/ Phytosanitary requirements´ sheet for the import of forestry raw materials, products and sub-products. d) Phytosanitary certificate for export or re-export |
| Chemical Substances and Hazardous Waste subject to international treaties. | I. Integral Management of Risk Materials and Activities General Direction. | From 10:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. of the 24, 26 and 31 of March, and 02, 07, 14 and 16 of April of 2020. From 10:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. of the 24, 26 and 31 of March, and also 02, 07, 14 and 16 of April of 2020. | a) Import Authorization for pesticides, plant nutrients, toxic or hazardous substances and materials. b) Export Authorization of Hazardous materials. c) Notice of imported temporary materials and return of hazardous waste. d) Authorization for Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Wastes set forth in International Treaties. |
| Air Emissions. | I. Air Quality Management and Pollutant Emissions and Transfer Registry General Direction. | The electronic system for regular submission remains available and the following emails are enabled: sinatec@semarnat.gob.mx, c o a @ s e m a r n a t .gob. m x , rene@semarnat.gob.mx and sgpa.coa@semarnat.gob.mx. | a) Annual notice through the COA. |
| Protected Natural Areas. | I. The activities and deadlines set for the Sustainable Development Conservation Program (PROCODES) for the tax year 2020, will not be suspended. II. The activities and deadlines set for the Protection and Restoration of Ecosystems and Species at Risk Program (PROREST) for the tax year 2020, will not be suspended. | ||
| Acquisition, leasing and services procedures. | I. The activities and deadlines for acquisitions, leasing and services procedures, as well as the execution of the corresponding legal acts, which are extremely urgent or necessary for the operations of SEMARNAT and its decentralized administrative units, will not be suspended. | ||
To obtain additional information contact our experts:
Edmond Grieger, Partner: +52 (55) 5258 1048 | egrieger@vwys.com.mx
Ariel Garfio, Associate: +52 (55) 5258 1048 | agarfio@vwys.com.mx
Rebeca Márquez, Associate: +52 (55) 5258 1048 | rmarquez@vwys.com.mx
Roberto Flores, Associate: +52 (55) 5258 1048 | rflores@vwys.com.mx