1. CRT and NOM – Two Independent Access Systems

RF electronic products exported to Mexico require both NOM safety and CRT spectrum approval. The two certifications are managed by different regulators – testing, review, and certification are completely independent – reports cannot substitute for each other.

·NOM: under Mexico's Ministry of Economy (SE) – covers electrical safety, EMC, and energy efficiency.

·CRT: the industry‑known "old IFT" – under the Federal Telecommunications Commission – covers radio spectrum and human‑exposure requirements.

The certificate holder must have a Mexican RFC tax ID – Chinese factories and trading companies cannot apply directly – they must use a local importer, distributor, or authorised representative. Waiting until goods are at the port – only to find the holder is non‑compliant – means rushing to find an agent and missing the shipping deadline.

  2. NOM Safety and Supporting Standards

NOM-001-SCFI is the electrical safety standard for IT and audio‑video products – covering insulation, leakage current, earthing, and temperature rise. EMC is not included – EMC has its own NOM standards. Products on the energy‑efficiency catalogue (lighting, power supplies, appliances) must meet efficiency limits – before affixing the yellow energy label.

Safety testing may use reports from ILAC labs on the mutual‑recognition list – not all samples need to be sent to Mexico – saving logistics and test time.

For products with lithium batteries – in addition to basic safety – distinguish between built‑in batteries and separately sold batteries – and address hazardous substances and UN38.3 transport requirements. Non‑removable built‑in batteries are generally exempt from separate battery‑specific tests.

  3. CRT RF – Applicable IFT Technical Specifications (Core Basis)

CRT spectrum approval is governed by IFT series technical specifications – not NOM standards.

·IFT‑008 (industry‑called old NOM‑208): covers 902–928 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz ISM short‑range bands – Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi, ZigBee, LoRa – testing RF power, frequency deviation, occupied bandwidth, and spurious emissions.

·IFT‑017: specifically for 5 GHz Wi‑Fi.

·IFT‑011 / NOM‑221: cellular terminals.

·IFT‑012: SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) assessment.

·IFT‑016: other low‑power non‑ISM devices.

Important: the rumoured "NOM‑220" body‑worn RF standard does not exist – nor does a 1 May 2026 mandatory date. Body‑worn devices add IFT‑012 SAR assessment on top of existing RF specifications – not a separate NOM standard.

  4. CRT Report Acceptance and Local Requirements

RF and SAR reports from labs on the US‑Mexico MRA mutual‑recognition list are accepted by CRT. European CE‑RED test reports cannot be directly used for Mexican applications – local difference tests must be supplemented.

Not all RF testing must be done locally – external data may be reused if acceptance conditions are met – but check the scope carefully. CRT final review is by the telecom regulator – Spanish labels and technical documents are common rejection points – NOM and CRT certificate numbers/marks must be separately and correctly placed.

  5. SAR (IFT‑012) Applicability and Testing Requirements

Only body‑worn wireless products – phones, Bluetooth headsets, wearables – require SAR testing. In‑vehicle modules, routers, and fixed‑installation devices are generally exempt.

Limits:

·Head/torso: 1.6 W/kg (1g average).

·Limbs: 4 W/kg (10g average).

Antenna layout and transmit power must be confirmed at the R&D stage – pre‑scan before submission to identify risks. If SAR exceeds limits – antenna hardware changes are far more costly than software‑parameter adjustments.

  6. Common Misconceptions

·Confusing standard systems – classifying CRT RF compliance under NOM‑208 or inventing a "NOM‑220" standard.

·Assuming NOM‑001 includes EMC – safety and EMC are separate standards.

·Thinking domestic lab RF reports can be directly submitted to CRT – report acceptance has strict boundaries.

·Ignoring the local RFC holder rule – discovering only near shipment that the certificate cannot be applied for.

  7. Practical Recommendations

At the module‑selection stage, match the corresponding IFT specifications – run safety and RF in parallel – leverage report‑acceptance mechanisms to compress overall timelines.

BlueAsia can handle full Mexico NOM and CRT compliance – standard matching, lab liaison, local‑holder coordination, and Spanish‑language document preparation – early involvement prevents project delays from later remediation.

For Mexico CRT certification standards, contact BlueAsia at 13534225140 (King) or email king.guo@cblueasia.com.