Mexico has published an emergency standard establishing quality and certification requirements for hydraulic cement manufactured, imported or sold in the country.

NOM-EM-023-SE-2026 sets out product specifications, testing methods, conformity-assessment procedures and commercial-information requirements. The framework is intended to improve construction safety and strengthen controls over cement entering the Mexican market.

The government estimates that businesses operating outside the existing regulatory framework handle at least 576,000t of cement annually. It puts the associated effect on the formal cement industry at up to MXN5.8bn (US$312m) per year, including the impact of imported cement sold through informal channels.

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The standard entered into force on 3 November 2026. However, it will not become enforceable until sufficient conformity-assessment bodies have been accredited and approved. Mexico’s Ministry of Economy will announce when that condition has been met.