Mexico NOM-051 warning seals: sizes, order and phases

Checked on 2026-10-31 · SupportMates LLC

Mexico's black octagon warning seals are set by the amendment to NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 published in the Diario Oficial (DOF) on March 27, 2020, with the phase calendar changed by a DOF Acuerdo of July 31, 2025. Essential for US brands selling into Mexico.

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Which phase applies now?

Phase	Dates	Source
Phase 1	Oct 1, 2020 – Sep 30, 2023	DOF 2020-03-27, 2nd transitory article
Phase 2 (current)	Oct 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2027	DOF Acuerdo 2025-07-31 (in force from Jan 1, 2026)
Phase 3	From Jan 1, 2028	DOF Acuerdo 2025-07-31

In phase 2, nutrients are evaluated based on what was added: added sugars trigger sugar and calorie checks, added fats trigger saturated fat, trans fat and calorie checks, and added sodium triggers the sodium check, against Table 6 profiles (for example, solids ≥ 275 kcal per 100 g; sodium ≥ 1 mg per kcal or ≥ 300 mg). A draft amendment, PROY-NOM-051-SE/SSA1-2025, was published for comment on Dec 5, 2025. As of Oct 31, 2026 we found no final publication, so it is a proposal, not the rule in force.

Minimum seal size (Table A1)

Principal display surface	Each seal (width × height)
≤ 5 cm²	At least 15% of the principal display surface
> 5 to ≤ 30 cm²	1.0 × 1.11 cm
> 30 to ≤ 60 cm²	1.5 × 1.66 cm
> 60 to ≤ 100 cm²	2.0 × 2.22 cm
> 100 to ≤ 200 cm²	2.5 × 2.77 cm
> 200 to ≤ 300 cm²	3.0 × 3.32 cm
> 300 cm²	3.5 × 3.88 cm

Small packages

≤ 40 cm²: one seal showing the number of nutrients in excess (4.5.3.4.2).
≤ 20 cm²: caffeine and sweetener legends may go without the box, in Arial Bold at the minimum net-content height (A.3.2).
< 60 cm²: seals may go anywhere on the principal surface; otherwise top-right corner (4.5.3.4.6).

Order and design

Left to right: EXCESO CALORÍAS, EXCESO AZÚCARES, EXCESO GRASAS SATURADAS, EXCESO GRASAS TRANS, EXCESO SODIO. The octagon text is Arial Bold, white on black, with the “SECRETARÍA DE SALUD” signature (Appendix A). The legends read “CONTIENE CAFEÍNA EVITAR EN NIÑOS” and “CONTIENE EDULCORANTES, NO RECOMENDABLE EN NIÑOS”. Compare any output with the official DOF artwork before printing.