Long Wait Times for the “Made in Mexico” Seal Affect SMEs
The relaunch of the “Made in Mexico” seal aims to boost local consumption and accelerate the growth of Mexican businesses. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have encountered slow processes when applying for this distinction.
What is the “Made in Mexico” Seal?
The “Made in Mexico” seal is part of the Mexico Plan, allowing SMEs to gain greater brand recognition, access government programs, and export products more easily.
SMEs Experience Lengthy Wait Times
Despite the gradual acquisition of the seal by Mexican companies, some SMEs have faced extended wait times—over four months in certain cases.
Case Studies: Trébol Muro and Beatriz Vega
Trébol Muro, founder of El Rebozo de Dolce, has been trying to obtain the “Made in Mexico” seal for four months. She believes it would accelerate her growth plans, but the process has taken too long.
Similarly, Beatriz Vega, founder of Ángeles del Pan, a three-year-old business that offers healthy and accessible food options due to her son’s dietary restrictions, has also faced difficulties acquiring the seal. She believes it would open doors to a broader audience seeking healthy options and allow her to expand her team from five to more employees.
Challenges in Seal Application Process
Trébol Muro points out that the lack of clarity in requirements and a 15-day response time from the Secretaría de Economía (SE) have contributed to the delays.
Beatriz Vega also mentions that although her application was submitted over a month ago, she has encountered difficulties due to the scarcity of Mexican-sourced raw materials, such as natural preservatives based on mushrooms, which she imports from Spain.
Secretaría de Economía’s Perspective
Lizzeth Pacheco, head of Promotion and Support for New Ideas at the Secretaría de Economía, states that the relaunch of the “Made in Mexico” seal has seen strong interest from Mexican businesses, including SMEs. However, they have received an overwhelming number of applications.
She explains that the process typically takes around 10 days, allowing businesses to correct information. The SE’s response time is usually one to two business days, but high demand can cause delays.
What SMEs Need
Without a confirmation of their seal application process, SMEs struggle to participate in certain events as exhibitors. They would benefit from a more direct communication channel, such as WhatsApp or modules to clarify doubts and receive guidance throughout the process.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the “Made in Mexico” seal? It’s a distinction provided by the Mexican government to promote local products and businesses, enhancing brand recognition, access to government programs, and export facilitation.
- Why are SMEs facing delays? The application process lacks clarity, and the Secretaría de Economía’s response time of 15 days contributes to extended wait times. Additionally, some SMEs struggle to find locally-sourced raw materials.
- What does the “Made in Mexico” seal offer to SMEs? It provides greater brand recognition, access to government programs, and export facilitation.
- What is the typical application process timeline? The process usually takes around 10 days, including corrections by the businesses. However, high demand and a 1-2 day response time from the Secretaría de Economía can cause delays.
- What challenges do SMEs face without confirmation of their application process? Without a confirmation, SMEs struggle to participate in certain events as exhibitors. A more direct communication channel and clearer guidance during the process would be beneficial.
