Pursuant to a Decree published on April 3, 2020, in the Official Journal of the Federation, the Ministry of Health implemented various actions relating to the acquisition and importation of medical equipment, diagnostic agents, surgical and healing materials and hygienic products, as well as all types of goods and products that are necessary to address the emergency, without the need to hold public bidding or undertake any administrative procedures, for the items and in the quantities necessary to address the emergency.The Decree lists the agencies authorized (within their respective scope of authority) to acquire and, when appropriate, import the goods and services mentioned in the immediately preceding paragraph, as well as make the necessary payments and advances that allow them to obtain the most favorable terms for Mexico. The following are the authorized agencies:
- Ministries of Health
- Secretary of National Defense
- Secretary of the Navy
- Institute of Health and Well-being
- Mexican Social Security Institute
- Institute of Security and Social Services for State Employees
The procedures applicable to these agencies with respect to the importation of the aforementioned goods, are also applicable to the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (“COFEPRIS” by its acronym in Spanish).Importantly, pursuant to the Decree, the exemption from administrative procedures for the importation of the aforementioned goods is only applicable to the agencies listed above.
