Companies wanting to advertise food supplements in Mexico should follow sanitary regulations. They must get the applicable advertising permit before publishing video and physical ads to the public. It doesn’t matter if they import or manufacture the supplements in the region. The permit procedure may be confusing to understand. So, this blog covers everything you should know about getting this permit and other advertising rules to follow for food supplements.
What is COFEPRIS Advertising Permission for Food Supplements in Mexico?
A COFEPRIS advertising permit is a sanitary authorization. It’s required before advertising food supplements to the public in Mexico. It applies to advertising that promotes the consumption or sale of these products, irrespective of their country of manufacture.
The applicable procedure is COFEPRIS-02-001, Modality A — Products and Services. It covers food supplements and certain other regulated products and services.
The permit is separate from other regulatory procedures that may apply to a supplement. For example, businesses importing food supplements may need a prior sanitary import permit, while products whose classification is uncertain may require a product-classification consultation. These procedures should not be confused with authorization to advertise.
Also, the advertising permit applies to a specific advertisement. It does not grant complete authorization for an entire advertising campaign, a group of products, or multiple advertisements for the same product.
Need support with COFEPRIS advertising permission? Explore our regulatory affairs services in Mexico for Food Supplements.
Documentation and Prerequisites for COFEPRIS Advertising Permission
Applicants should prepare the documents specified in the current COFEPRIS procedure for the advertising permit. The following principal documents are provided in COFEPRIS’ guidance:
- Completed advertising application form: Formato de Publicidad, form number FF-COFEPRIS-13. It covers detailed information about the location, owner of the establishment, health officer, and legal representatives. Further, include the specification of the procedure type and related verification code.
- Proof of payment: The original payment receipt and two copies with a bank certification seal according to the Federal Law of Fees.
- Advertising project: The proposed advertisement, submitted in the required format and number of copies. COFEPRIS’s guidance specifies two copies, preferably in color. It’s an organized plan. It promotes a product, service, or idea. You can get public attention and achieve a specific goal through it.
- Supporting evidence for advertising claims: Original documents are required. It substantiates the properties, benefits, or other claims presented in the advertisement.
- Establishment documentation, where applicable: The relevant health license number or notice of operation, preferably a copy.
- Consultation or Prior Sanitary Import Permit: Provide a positive resolution of the consultation regarding food supplement classification or the Prior Sanitary Import Permit, whichever applies.
- Public Instrument: Submit a notarized public instrument for legal entities. It should reflect the legal representation of the legal entity.
- Supporting Documents: A copy of each–notice of operation or responsible health officer, health license, health registration, annexes, proofs of health registration, health permit, control card, alphanumeric code, certificate, and/or product labels, as applicable.
- Simple Power of Attorney: It’s a document that provides proper legal representation of a natural person.
Applicants should check the current official checklist before submitting their application. That’s because the authority may require additional supporting records where applicable.
How to Obtain an Advertising Permit for Food Supplements in Mexico?
There’s a defined procedure for getting a food supplement advertising permit. It covers the following:
Step 1: Complete the Advertising Application Form
Complete the official Formato de Publicidad FF-COFEPRIS-13. Select the relevant procedure. It’s COFEPRIS-02-001, Modality A — Products and Services, for food supplements. Check the consistency in the applicant’s details, establishment information, legal representation, and advertising documentation.
Step 2: Pay the Fee
Determine the fee based on the advertising medium and the current tariff for food supplements. Payment must be made before the procedure begins. Use the current payment reference and instructions published by COFEPRIS. Retain the payment receipt and include the required original and copies with the application.
Step 3: Submit the Application
The official procedure lists in-person submission with a prior appointment at the COFEPRIS office in Mexico City.
Address:
COFEPRIS Oklahoma No. 14, Colonia Nápoles Alcaldía Benito Juárez C.P. 03810, Mexico City, Mexico
Before visiting, confirm the current appointment arrangements. Also, check the submission instructions through the official COFEPRIS website. Telephone service: (555) 080-5200, ext. 11470, or email: contactociudadano@cofepris.gob.mx.
Step 4: Submit Supporting Documents
Complete all the documents provided above and any others that may be requested by the authorities.
Step 5: Track the Application. Receive the Decision
A seven-business-day response time may be there. This is the stated processing time. The timeline may become longer if there’s a request for additional information or other procedural issues. Retain the acknowledgment or entry number after submitting the application. Applicants can consult the official application-status service. They can also contact COFEPRIS for assistance.
How Can Applicants Outside Mexico City Submit Their Application?
Applicants whose address is outside Mexico City can use COFEPRIS’s Tramitación Foránea process, subject to its instructions. Documents may be sent through designated state sanitary authorities or by courier.
1. Submission through a state sanitary authority
Applicants may submit documents through the relevant state authority participating in the Federal Sanitary System. The authority can transfer the documents to COFEPRIS through the established document-transfer process.
Confirm with the relevant state authority that it accepts the particular procedure before submitting the documents.
2. Submission by courier
Applicants can send their documents using a courier service in accordance with the current COFEPRIS instructions. If the applicant needs the resolution or acknowledgement returned by courier, the return guide must meet the authority’s requirements, including being valid and providing a collection service.
COFEPRIS explains that applicants can look up the entry number for a courier submission using the shipment tracking number in the relevant list of received applications. This list is updated weekly.
3. Tracking and follow-up
Applicants can check the status of their procedure through the official electronic status service. For questions about an application submitted from outside Mexico City, they can contact COFEPRIS for matters relating to out-of-state submissions.
COFEPRIS Advertising Permit Fees for Food Supplements in 2026
The fee for a food supplement advertising permit depends on the advertising medium. Under Article 195, Section I of Mexico’s Federal Law on Rights (Ley Federal de Derechos), the applicable advertising-permit fee for food supplements is 50% higher than the corresponding standard fee.
The following amounts are the published 2026 fees for food supplement advertising, rounded to the nearest peso.
| Advertising medium | Fee (MXN) |
| Television and internet | $66,378 |
| Cinema, video in enclosed public places and public transport | $7,358 |
| Radio | $5,228 |
| Press, including newspapers and magazines | $1,743 |
| Brochures, catalogues, posters and similar printed materials under 1 m² | $1,201 |
| Outdoor advertisements with a printed area over 1 m² | $9,294 |
These are the published tariff amounts for 1 January to 31 December 2026. The applicable charge is calculated per product and type of advertising message under the relevant tariff category. Confirm the payment amount and reference before making payment, as the authority’s current instructions take precedence.
Key Advertising Rules for Food Supplements in Mexico
Food supplements also have advertising requirements that you must follow in Mexico:
Avoid misleading or unsubstantiated claims
Have proper documents that can back your advertising claims. Businesses should not exaggerate a product’s properties or communicate benefits that the evidence does not establish.
Food supplements are not medicines
Food supplements must not be advertised as products that avert, treat, or cure ailments. Advertising should not attribute medicinal properties to a supplement. There should also be no suggestion that it replaces medical treatment.
Include the required warning statements
“Este producto no es un medicamento” (This product is not a medicine). Businesses should verify the precise wording. They should make any additional statements required for the proposed advertisement with proper warnings.
Check the advertising material before publication
Review the final creative. That covers its text, images, audiovisual content, and implied claims. Make sure that the version distributed to the public matches the advertising material covered by the applicable permit.
Conclusion
Get a COFEPRIS advertising permit. It will require proper documents and substantiation of advertising claims. You should pay and prove the applicable fee. Also, ensure that the proposed material is aligned with Mexican sanitary advertising requirements. You should also assess advertising content before publication. This will help avoid unsupported claims or statements that could present a food supplement as a medicine.
Are you ready to start your advertising journey for food supplements in Mexico? Contact Artixio today at info@artixio.com. We’ll provide you with expert guidance and assistance in going through the regulatory process smoothly. Let us help you ensure compliance and launch successful advertising campaigns for your products.
FAQs
1. How much time is required for processing an advertising-permit application with COFEPRIS?
Seven business days. Applicants should allow for possible delays if the authority requests additional information or if the application requires further processing.
2. Does the advertising permit have a fixed validity period?
The procedure lists the permit’s validity as not applicable (no aplica). This should not be interpreted as blanket authorization for every future advertisement. The permit applies to the specific advertising material covered by the authorization.
3. Can a company advertise a supplement while its permit application is pending?
Businesses should not assume that submitting an application authorizes publication. The advertising permit is the sanitary authorization for the relevant material. Applicants should wait until the applicable authorization has been granted before releasing the advertisement to the public.
4. Does the advertising permit replace a sanitary import permit for food supplements?
No. Advertising authorization and sanitary import authorization are separate procedures. Businesses importing food supplements should assess the applicable import requirements independently of the requirements for advertising the product.
5. How can an applicant check the application status sent by courier?
Applicants can use the COFEPRIS electronic application-status service. For out-of-state courier submissions, the COFEPRIS out-of-state processing page also explains how to identify the entry number using the courier tracking number.
