Air Freight of Sensitive Cargo to Mexico: A List of 15 Categories of Prohibited Items
Against the backdrop of deepening global trade, Mexico, as a major economy in Latin America, has seen increasingly frequent cargo exchanges with countries around the world. Air freight, with its advantages of high efficiency and speed, has become the preferred choice for many enterprises to transport goods to Mexico. However, Mexico imposes extremely strict regulations on air freight cargo, especially sensitive cargo, and has clearly defined a series of prohibited items. Understanding and complying with these regulations is crucial to ensuring the smooth transportation of goods and avoiding unnecessary losses. This article will detail the list of 15 categories of prohibited items when air-freighting sensitive cargo to Mexico, providing comprehensive and practical references for relevant enterprises and practitioners.
I. Mexico’s Air Freight Regulatory Environment and Definition of Sensitive Cargo
Mexico has a relatively well-established air freight regulatory system. Its aviation transportation-related laws and regulations not only adhere to the unified standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) but also incorporate more detailed provisions based on its national conditions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) of Mexico, as the main regulatory authority, is responsible for the overall management of national aviation transportation affairs and exercises strict control over all links of air freight cargo, including classification, inspection, and transportation.
Sensitive cargo generally refers to goods that may pose potential risks to transportation safety, public safety, the environment, or the interests of others due to their inherent characteristics during transportation. Such cargo often requires special transportation conditions and approval procedures. Prohibited sensitive cargo, on the other hand, refers to goods that are explicitly prohibited from entering Mexico by air due to their extremely high risk level or non-compliance with Mexico’s laws and regulations, social public interests, and other requirements.
II. A List of 15 Categories of Items Prohibited from Air Freight to Mexico
(1) Various Types of Weapons and Ammunition
Weapons and ammunition are key prohibited item categories in Mexico’s air freight regulations, including but not limited to military firearms, civilian pistols, rifles, submachine guns, machine guns, shotguns, and other types of firearms, as well as bullets, artillery shells, grenades, landmines, and other ammunition and explosive devices. Such items possess extremely strong lethality. Once they flow into Mexico, they can easily trigger violent crimes, terrorist activities, and other serious issues endangering social security. Mexico itself faces severe challenges in public security, and the illegal circulation of weapons is one of the important reasons for the high crime rate. Therefore, Mexico has imposed extremely strict restrictions on the air freight of weapons and ammunition. In accordance with Mexico’s Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives, any unauthorized transportation of weapons and ammunition will be subject to severe legal penalties, including heavy fines and long-term imprisonment.
(2) Drugs and Related Prohibited Pharmaceuticals
Mexico is one of the countries severely affected by drug problems globally, and the government has always maintained a tough stance in cracking down on drugs. Therefore, drugs and related prohibited pharmaceuticals are also strictly prohibited from entering Mexico by air. The drugs mentioned here include opium, heroin, morphine, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and other narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances controlled by international and Mexican domestic laws. At the same time, prohibited pharmaceuticals transported without authorization, such as prescription drugs without import permits and counterfeit or substandard pharmaceuticals, also fall within the scope of prohibited air freight items. Drugs not only seriously harm personal health and life safety but also destroy family happiness and trigger a series of social problems, such as violent crimes and money laundering, posing a great threat to Mexico’s social stability and economic development. Mexico’s customs and anti-narcotics departments cooperate closely, equipping major airports with advanced drug detection equipment and professional law enforcement personnel to conduct strict inspections on air freight cargo. Once drugs are found, they will be immediately seized in accordance with the law, and the relevant responsible persons will be dealt with seriously.
(3) Flammable and Explosive Items
Due to the extremely high safety risks of flammable and explosive items during transportation, they are explicitly prohibited from being air-freighted to Mexico. Such items include flammable gases and liquids such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, alcohol (with a concentration exceeding a certain standard), natural gas, liquefied gas, and hydrogen, as well as various explosive items and flammable solids such as matches, lighters (containing gas or fuel), fireworks, firecrackers, explosives, detonators, and fuses. In the air freight environment, due to factors such as the closed cabin space, large pressure changes, and difficult precise control of temperature, flammable and explosive items are highly prone to causing combustion and explosion accidents due to collision, friction, high temperature, high pressure, and other reasons. This will not only lead to aircraft damage and casualties but also may pose a serious threat to the safety of personnel and property on the ground. In accordance with the Dangerous Goods Regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Mexico’s DGAC has formulated strict prohibitions on the air freight of flammable and explosive items, and no enterprise or individual is allowed to transport such items in violation of the regulations.
(4) Radioactive Substances
Radioactive substances are radioactive and can cause serious harm to human health and the environment, so they are also prohibited from being air-freighted to Mexico. Such substances include natural or artificial radioactive elements and their compounds such as uranium, plutonium, radium, and cobalt, as well as equipment and instruments containing these substances, such as untreated radioactive medical equipment, nuclear reactor components, and radioactive waste. The radiation emitted by radioactive substances can damage human cells and tissues, leading to gene mutations, cancer, and other serious diseases. At the same time, it can also cause long-term pollution to the soil, water sources, air, and other environments, affecting the ecological balance. Mexico’s management of radioactive substances adheres to the relevant regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and has formulated strict domestic laws and regulations. It requires that any transportation involving radioactive substances must undergo strict approval and special protective treatment. However, due to the particularity of air freight, the transportation of such substances by air is directly prohibited, except for extremely rare cases where they are used for special scientific research or medical purposes and have obtained extremely strict special permits from relevant Mexican authorities.
(5) Corrosive Substances
Corrosive substances can cause corrosive damage to various materials such as metals, wood, and plastics, and can also cause serious harm to human skin, eyes, respiratory tracts, etc. Therefore, they are prohibited from being air-freighted to Mexico. Common corrosive substances include strong acids, strong alkalis, and other corrosive chemicals such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide (at high concentrations), and formaldehyde. During air freight, if the packaging of corrosive substances is damaged, they will leak out and corrode the aircraft’s fuselage structure, equipment components, etc., affecting the flight safety of the aircraft. At the same time, the leaked corrosive substances can also cause burns and other injuries to the personnel who come into contact with them, and if they enter the human body through the respiratory tract, they can also cause serious health problems such as respiratory diseases. Mexico’s customs conducts strict inspections on corrosive substances in air freight cargo. Once found, entry will be immediately prohibited, and the cargo owner will be required to properly dispose of the cargo. Meanwhile, the cargo owner may also be fined accordingly.
(6) Highly Toxic Substances
Highly toxic substances have extremely strong toxicity, and even a small amount of contact can cause death or severe poisoning in humans. Therefore, they are strictly prohibited from being air-freighted to Mexico. Such substances include arsenic trioxide, cyanides (such as potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide), tetramine (a highly toxic rodenticide), methamidophos (a highly toxic pesticide), and other chemical substances and biological agents containing highly toxic components. Highly toxic substances pose extremely high risks. Once they leak during air freight, they will not only pose a threat to the lives of the crew and passengers on the aircraft but also may cause serious harm to the personnel who come into contact with the cargo and the surrounding environment after the cargo arrives at the destination. Mexico’s health departments and customs have strict regulations on the import and transportation of highly toxic substances, and any unauthorized transportation of highly toxic substances will be subject to severe legal sanctions.
(7) Counterfeit and Shoddy Goods
Counterfeit and shoddy goods not only harm the legitimate rights and interests of consumers but also disrupt the normal market order and infringe on the interests of intellectual property owners. Therefore, Mexico prohibits the transportation of counterfeit and shoddy goods by air. Such goods cover a wide range, including counterfeit products of well-known brands such as clothing, shoes, hats, luggage, electronic products (such as mobile phones, computers, headphones, etc.), cosmetics, watches, and jewelry, as well as shoddy products that do not meet relevant standards, such as inferior food, expired pharmaceuticals, and substandard household appliances. Counterfeit and shoddy goods usually fail to meet relevant quality and safety standards during the production process and may have potential safety hazards. For example, inferior electronic products may have risks of electric leakage and fire, and inferior food may contain harmful additives, endangering human health. Mexico’s intellectual property protection departments and customs cooperate closely to strengthen the inspection of counterfeit and shoddy goods in air freight cargo. Once counterfeit and shoddy goods are found, they will be confiscated in accordance with the law, the relevant responsible persons will be punished, and the relevant information may also be notified to the intellectual property owners to facilitate them to take further legal actions.
(8) Items Infringing Intellectual Property Rights
In addition to counterfeit and shoddy goods, other items that infringe intellectual property rights are also prohibited from being air-freighted to Mexico. Such items mainly refer to those that use patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other intellectual property rights without the authorization of the intellectual property owners. For example, unauthorized copies of books, newspapers, audio-visual products (such as CDs, tapes, etc.), software programs, and products produced using others’ patented technologies without permission. Intellectual property rights are an important driving force for innovation, and protecting intellectual property rights is of great significance for promoting scientific and technological progress, cultural prosperity, and economic development. Mexico attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights, has established a sound legal system for intellectual property rights, and has joined a number of international intellectual property protection organizations, actively fulfilling its international obligations. For items that infringe intellectual property rights found in air freight cargo, Mexico’s customs will seize and confiscate them in accordance with the law, and impose penalties such as fines and criminal liability on the relevant responsible persons according to the severity of the circumstances.
(9) Controlled Knives and Sharp Tools
Controlled knives and sharp tools have a certain degree of aggressiveness and may pose a threat to the personal safety of others. Therefore, they are also included in the scope of items prohibited from being air-freighted to Mexico. Such items include various controlled knives such as daggers, triangular knives, spring knives (switchblades), self-locking knives, and knives with blood grooves, as well as sharp tools with strong lethality such as axes, kitchen knives (exceeding the scope of reasonable personal use), scissors (with blade lengths exceeding the specified standards), blades (in large quantities or for illegal purposes), and utility knives (without safety protection measures and in large quantities). During air freight, if these controlled knives and sharp tools are obtained by criminals, they may commit illegal and criminal acts such as robbery and injury on the aircraft, seriously threatening flight safety and the personal safety of passengers. Mexico’s customs conducts strict inspections on controlled knives and sharp tools in air freight cargo. For controlled knives and sharp tools that exceed the scope of reasonable personal use or are used for illegal purposes, entry will be prohibited without exception.
(10) Live Animals (Except for Special Cases)
In general, live animals are prohibited from being transported to Mexico by air, except for special cases that comply with the provisions of relevant Mexican authorities, such as those used for scientific research, medical treatment, exhibitions, and other purposes and have obtained the corresponding permission documents. The live animals mentioned here include various mammals (such as cats, dogs, pigs, cattle, sheep, etc., except for pets that have undergone strict quarantine and approval), birds, reptiles (such as snakes, lizards, crocodiles, etc.), amphibians (such as frogs, toads, etc.), fish, and insects. Live animals require special transportation conditions during air freight, such as a suitable temperature, humidity, ventilation environment, and sufficient food and water. If the transportation conditions do not meet the requirements, it is easy to cause the death or illness of the animals. At the same time, some live animals may carry pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, such as avian influenza viruses and rabies viruses. Once they are introduced into Mexico, they may trigger large-scale epidemics, causing serious harm to Mexico’s animal husbandry, aquaculture, and human health. Therefore, Mexico has strict restrictions on the air freight of live animals. Only after strict quarantine and inspection and obtaining approval from relevant departments such as Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) can specific types of live animals enter Mexico by air.
(11) Precious Wildlife and Their Products
To protect global biodiversity, Mexico strictly prohibits the air freight of precious wildlife and their products. Such items mainly include wildlife and their products listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Mexico’s domestic list of protected rare wildlife. For example, products made from the fur, bones, and meat of rare mammals such as giant pandas, golden monkeys, Siberian tigers, South China tigers, and Tibetan antelopes; rare plants such as Taxus chinensis, Davidia involucrata, and Metasequoia glyptostroboides and their products, such as wood, medicinal materials, and potted plants; as well as precious animal products such as ivory, rhinoceros horns, hawksbill turtle shells, and coral. Precious wildlife are precious treasures of nature. Due to over-hunting, logging, environmental destruction, and other human activities, many precious wildlife are facing serious threats to their survival and even on the verge of extinction. As a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Mexico actively fulfills its obligations under the convention, strengthens the protection and supervision of precious wildlife and their products, and severely cracks down on the illegal transportation of precious wildlife and their products. Once relevant cargo is found, it will be confiscated in accordance with the law, and the relevant responsible persons will be held legally accountable.
(12) Obscene and Pornographic Items
Obscene and pornographic items corrupt people’s minds, undermine social ethics, and harm the physical and mental health of teenagers. Therefore, Mexico prohibits the air freight of obscene and pornographic items. Such items include obscene books, magazines, newspapers, picture albums, photos, films, television programs, video tapes, CDs, software, and other items containing obscene and pornographic content, such as pornographic toys and pornographic clothing. Mexico is a country that values ethics and social ethics and has strict legal prohibitions on the dissemination and transportation of obscene and pornographic items. When inspecting air freight cargo, Mexico’s customs will focus on checking for the presence of obscene and pornographic items. Once found, they will be immediately confiscated, the relevant responsible persons will be punished, and criminal liability will be pursued in serious cases.
(13) Reactionary Propaganda Materials
Reactionary propaganda materials refer to items containing content that opposes the Mexican government, undermines Mexico’s national unity, incites national separatism, and provokes social unrest. Such items are strictly prohibited from being air-freighted to Mexico. For example, books, leaflets, posters, audio-visual products, electronic documents, and other materials that advocate the overthrow of the current Mexican government, as well as various propaganda materials that incite ethnic hatred and religious extremism. As a sovereign country, maintaining national stability and unity is Mexico’s core interest. The dissemination of reactionary propaganda materials will pose a serious threat to Mexico’s political stability and social harmony. Therefore, the Mexican government adopts a zero-tolerance attitude towards the transportation of reactionary propaganda materials. Mexico’s security departments and customs cooperate closely to strengthen the inspection of reactionary propaganda materials in air freight cargo. Once relevant items are found, they will be seized and destroyed in accordance with the law, and the relevant responsible persons will be dealt with seriously and held legally accountable.
(14) Unquarantined Animal and Plant Products
Unquarantined animal and plant products may carry harmful organisms such as pests, bacteria, and viruses. Once introduced into Mexico, they may cause serious harm to Mexico’s agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, and ecological environment. Therefore, they are prohibited from being air-freighted to Mexico. Such items include unquarantined meat and its products (such as pork, beef, mutton, chicken, and their processed products such as sausages, ham, and canned food), egg products, dairy products, aquatic products (such as fish, shrimp, crabs, and their processed products), plant products (such as fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, flowers, seedlings, etc.), and other products of animal and plant origin. Mexico’s SAGARPA is responsible for the quarantine and inspection of imported animal and plant products. All animal and plant products air-freighted to Mexico must undergo strict quarantine and obtain the corresponding quarantine certificates before being allowed to enter the country. For unquarantined animal and plant products, Mexico’s customs will prohibit entry without exception, and dispose of the cargo by destruction or return according to the situation. Meanwhile, the cargo owner may also be fined.
(15) Other Items Endangering National Security and Public Interests
In addition to the above 14 clearly defined categories of prohibited air freight items, any other items that endanger Mexico’s national security and public interests are also prohibited from entering Mexico by air. The scope of such items is relatively broad, including but not limited to: items that may be used for terrorist activities, such as components of explosive devices and weapon accessories disguised as ordinary items; items that endanger Mexico’s financial security, such as counterfeit currency, securities, and bank cards; and other special items prohibited from transportation in accordance with Mexican laws and regulations and international conventions. The Mexican government will adjust and supplement the scope of prohibited air freight items in a timely manner according to the national security situation and the needs