Yesterday, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (“SEMARNAT”) published in the Official Gazette of the Federation the “Agreement making known to the general public the days that will be considered non-business days for purposes of the administrative acts and proceedings conducted by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources and its decentralized administrative bodies.” (“Agreement”).
The Agreement provides that, for reasons of force majeure, on account of the health situation generated by COVID-19, the days from March 23 to April 17, 2020 are deemed non-business days, without implying a suspension of work. During the aforementioned days, the corresponding deadlines and terms in the administrative proceedings conducted before SEMARNAT will not be counted, including those of its decentralized administrative bodies (National Water Commission, Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection, National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity, and the National Institute of Ecology). Likewise, the Energy Regulatory Commission (“CRE”) published in yesterday’s evening edition of the Official Gazette of the Federation the “Agreement number A/010/2020 establishing the suspension of legal deadlines and terms at the Energy Regulatory Commission,” which similarly suspends the deadlines and terms in the acts conducted before the CRE, as of the publication of this agreement and until April 17, 2020. For its part, the National Forestry Commission published today in the Official Gazette of the Federation the “Agreement making known to the public the days of the months of March and April 2020 that will be considered non-business days for purposes of the acts and proceedings specified therein”; said agreement provides that, for purposes of the administrative acts and proceedings related to appeals for review, administrative rescissions, patrimonial claims, and procedures under the General Law on Sustainable Forestry Development (Change of Land Use on Forest Lands), the days from March 23 to April 17, 2020 will not be considered business days. Finally, the Ministry of Energy (“SENER”) and the National Hydrocarbons Commission (“CNH”) published on the website of the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement (“CONAMER”) their draft agreements to likewise consider as non-business days, for administrative acts and proceedings conducted before said authorities, the days up to April 17, 2020. The draft agreements of SENER and CNH have not yet been published in the Official Gazette of the Federation. We will inform you immediately when that occurs and said agreements enter into force. For additional information, contact our experts: Edmond Grieger, Partner: +52 (55) 5258 1048 | egrieger@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
