Many home appliance companies fail NOM ANCE certification not due to "missing documents" or "failed tests," but because they misunderstand Mexico’s certification logic—it’s a triple screening process: "product categorization + standard adaptation + local compliance." With 2025-2026 policy tightening, ambiguity in any link leads to compliance failure. This article breaks down NOM ANCE’s standard system, product scope, and test key points based on the latest official documents, laboratory data, and customs clearance cases—helping you shift from "passive compliance" to "proactive adaptation."

I. 3 Principles for NOM ANCE Product Categorization (2025 Official Definition)

Many companies make mistakes at the first step: incorrect product categorization. The Mexican Ministry of Economy clarified 3 principles for "household electrical equipment" under NOM ANCE (all must be met):

1.Usage scenario: Primarily for "household daily use" (not industrial, commercial, or professional – e.g., household vacuum cleaners qualify; industrial ones do not).

2.Power supply: Operates on Mexican mains (127V/60Hz) or rechargeable batteries for household use (e.g., home energy storage batteries ≤10kWh).

3.Functional attribute: Core function is "improving home environment, handling housework, or providing daily convenience" (e.g., ACs regulate temperature; rice cookers cook food).

Clear boundaries:

·Eligible products: Household ACs, refrigerators, washing machines, electric kettles, rice cookers, LED ceiling lights, household drills (≤1500W), dehumidifiers.

·Ineligible products: Microwaves (NOM NYCE), industrial ACs, electric bikes (SCT Ministry of Communications), USB fans (≤50W, exempt), solar inverters (NOM NYCE).

·Special cases: Smart appliances (e.g., Wi-Fi washing machines) require "split compliance" – ANCE (safety + energy efficiency) + IFT certification (wireless modules); neither can be omitted.

  II. 2025-2026 Core NOM ANCE Standards

NOM ANCE’s standard system is structured into 4 modules: "safety baseline + energy efficiency red line + functional adaptation + local implementation"—all with 2025 updates:

1. Safety Baseline Module: NOM-003-SCFI-2024 (Mandatory for All Appliances, 3 New Tests)

This is the "lifeline" for consumer safety—2024 updates introduced stricter testing, focusing on "redundancy design" rather than just "meeting minimum requirements":

·Core test items (new + upgraded):① Electric shock protection: Insulation resistance test upgraded from ≥5MΩ to ≥10MΩ; plastic-shell appliances require "double insulation + leakage current test" (leakage ≤0.75mA).② Temperature rise control: New "extreme condition temperature rise test" – shell temperature ≤65℃ and accessible parts (handles/buttons) ≤55℃ during ±10% voltage fluctuations.③ Fault protection: Short-circuit/overload/dry-heating protection response time reduced from ≤1 second to ≤0.5 seconds (manual reset required; automatic recovery prohibited).④ Mechanical strength: Shell impact test upgraded from "1kg steel ball dropped from 1m" to "1.5kg steel ball from 1.2m" (no cracks or leakage allowed).

·Practical case: A Zhongshan electric water heater company failed due to 0.6-second dry-heating protection response time (10-day delay for circuit redesign); a rice cooker company failed with 0.8mA leakage current (resolved by replacing high-quality insulation materials).

2. Energy Efficiency Red Line Module: Product-Specific NOM-ENER Standards (2024 Full Implementation)

Mexico’s energy efficiency regulation has evolved from "access requirement" to "market elimination mechanism"—2024 standards tightened by 15%-20%. Non-compliant products face certification rejection and PROFECO penalties:

·Large appliances (ACs, refrigerators, washing machines):① ACs: NOM-016-ENER-2024 – APF (Annual Performance Factor) ≥3.0 (20% increase from old standards) + new "low-temperature heating efficiency test" (COP ≥1.8 at 5℃).② Refrigerators: NOM-015-ENER-2024 – Daily power consumption ≤0.8kWh (for ≤500L models) + freezing capacity ≥5kg/24h + tropical climate energy efficiency test (power consumption fluctuation ≤10% at 35℃).③ Washing machines: NOM-020-ENER-2024 – Water consumption ≤12L/kg + energy efficiency class ≥2 (old class 1 invalid) + new "wool wash mode energy efficiency test."

·Small appliances (electric kettles, rice cookers, lamps):① Electric kettles/rice cookers: NOM-029-ENER-2024 – Kettle heating efficiency ≥85%, rice cooker cooking efficiency ≥75%, standby power ≤0.5W (old 1W invalid).② Household lamps: NOM-030-ENER-2024 – LED efficacy ≥100lm/W, color rendering index ≥80, flicker depth ≤10% (eye protection).

3. Functional Adaptation Module: Product-Specific Supplementary Tests

Easily overlooked—certain appliances require additional standards beyond "safety + energy efficiency" (2025 audit focus):

·Cooling/heating appliances (ACs, refrigerators, heaters): NOM-004-SCFI – Tropical climate adaptation test (72-hour continuous operation at 35℃; cooling/heating capacity attenuation ≤10%, no fault shutdowns).

·Heating function appliances (water heaters, irons): NOM-005-SCFI – Dry-heating protection + temperature accuracy test (power cutoff within 3 seconds; temperature control error ≤±2℃).

·Smart appliances (precision electronic controls): EMC testing is non-mandatory, but 2025 certification bodies require "EMC assessment reports" (pre-test domestically to avoid supplementary testing).

4. Local Implementation Module: Label & Document Compliance (2025 New Traceability Requirements)

Many companies pass certification but fail customs clearance due to this module—2025 requirements are more detailed:

·Product label (5 mandatory elements): ① NOM ANCE mark (size ≥8mm); ② Certificate number + holder’s RFC tax ID; ③ Electrical parameters (127V/60Hz); ④ Energy efficiency class + customs traceability QR code (applied by the holder via the Ministry of Economy system); ⑤ Spanish safety warnings (e.g., "Keep children away from hot surfaces").

·Technical documents: ① Spanish manual (accurate terminology – e.g., "double insulation" = "aislamiento doble") with installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting guides; ② Test reports must include "Mexican-recognized laboratory number" and "standard version" (e.g., NOM-016-ENER-2024 – unlabeled reports are invalid); ③ Holder qualifications must be notarized by a local lawyer and registered with the Ministry of Economy.

  III. 2025-2026 NOM ANCE Covered Products

1. Clearly Covered Products

·Environmental control: ACs (split, window, portable), refrigerators, freezers, wine coolers, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, fans, heaters.

·Household chores: Washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, robotic vacuums (household), steam cleaners.

·Kitchen appliances: Rice cookers, electric kettles, induction cooktops, ovens, slow cookers, coffee makers, juicers, food processors.

·Personal care: Hair dryers, irons, electric shavers (rechargeable, ≤50W exempt), curling irons.

·Lighting: Household LED lamps, fluorescent lamps, desk lamps, ceiling lamps, wall lamps.

·Household tools: Drills, hammers, grinders, electric scissors (≤1500W, household use).

·Energy storage accessories: Home energy storage batteries (≤10kWh), portable chargers (household).

2. 2025 Newly Added Products

·Smart appliance accessories: Wired smart gateways, smart control panels (no wireless functions), household sensors (e.g., temperature/humidity sensors, mains-powered).

·New energy-related: Home solar storage integrated systems (≤10kWh), electric bike chargers (household, 127V).

3. Exempt Products (No Certification Required)

·Low-power small appliances (≤50W): Electric toothbrushes, small shavers, USB fans, power banks (≤10000mAh).

·Non-electric appliances: Manual juicers, mechanical shavers, regular desk lamps (no electrical components), wooden hangers.

·Industrial/commercial equipment: Industrial ACs, large air compressors, commercial dishwashers, industrial power tools.

·Personal/business use (≤5 units): Imported for internal use – self-declaration required (comply with customs regulations).

4. Common Categorization Mistakes (Correct Compliance Paths)

·Case 1: Smart AC → Correct path: ANCE (safety + energy efficiency) + IFT (Wi-Fi module) – ANCE alone is insufficient.

·Case 2: Microwave → Correct path: NOM NYCE (safety + EMC) + IFT (wireless functions) – not covered by ANCE.

·Case 3: Household drill (2000W) → Correct path: ANCE + supplementary "high-power overload protection test" (cannot use small-power standards).

·Case 4: Home solar inverter → Correct path: NOM NYCE – not covered by ANCE (follow electronic equipment standards).

  IV. 2026 NOM ANCE Standard Updates

1.Universal energy efficiency upgrade: All appliances must test to 2024 NOM-ENER standards (2023 and older reports rejected with no transition period, effective January 2025).

2.Mandatory tropical climate testing: Environmental appliances (ACs, refrigerators, heaters) require tropical adaptation reports (no reports = no audit access, 2025 onwards).

3.QR code binding verification: From March 2025, QR codes must link to certification info, holder’s RFC tax ID, and production batch – customs scans for verification. Fake/inconsistent QR codes result in fines up to $10,000 per unit.

2025-2026 NOM ANCE trends: "Stricter, more detailed, more precise." Companies must move beyond "memorizing standard numbers" to "logical matching": categorize products by 3 principles, match standards by functional modules, and finalize labels/documents per local requirements.

BLUEASIA: +86 13534225140 – We offer professional certification consulting services.