By Lizbeth Espinosa
On January 8, 2025, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) announced in the Official Journal of the Federation (DOF) the creation of the Environmental Electronic Window (VEA), a tool designed to facilitate the management of procedures related to environmental authorizations and permits. This marks a significant change in the way companies and individuals interact with the environmental authority in Mexico.
What is the Environmental Electronic Window?
The VEA is a digital system that seeks to optimize processes, allowing users to carry out procedures in a more agile and effective manner. From the application to the follow-up of authorizations, this platform promises to reduce waiting times and improve the administrative experience for those who need to comply with environmental obligations.
How does it impact companies?
Companies that manage permits or projects related to the environment will have to adapt to this new system. By digitizing procedures, SEMARNAT aims to simplify processes, although this will require organizations to familiarize themselves with the operation of the VEA and keep up to date with its provisions.
As of January 9, 2025, interested persons will be able to access the VEA to register as users and create their citizen folders, an essential requirement to initiate any procedure. Both individuals and companies must provide their data when registering on this new platform.
Key aspects of the agreement
- Digital access: The VEA will centralize environmental procedures on a platform accessible online.
- Responsibility: Each administrative unit of SEMARNAT will be responsible for managing the procedures corresponding to its area.
- Administrative efficiency: The aim is to streamline and make procedures related to environmental authorizations more transparent.
- Continuity and transition: Procedures initiated in the National Procedures System (SINAT) or its electronic version (SINATEC) prior to the entry into force of the agreement will continue to be handled by those means until their conclusion.
What’s next?
This measure is part of SEMARNAT’s strategies to simplify administrative procedures, which is particularly relevant in view of the staff and budget cuts faced by the federal agency, as well as the accumulated delays.
The implementation of the VEA represents an opportunity to reduce waiting times and optimize processes, with the expectation that in the coming months specific agreements published in the DOF will define which procedures will be handled exclusively through this platform.
It is crucial for companies to be attentive to future communications from SEMARNAT regarding the use and operation of the Environmental Electronic Window. In addition, it is recommended to review their internal processes to align with this new digital modality.
At Vega, Guerrero y Asociados, we provide specialized environmental consulting services to ensure efficient compliance with the standards established by the environmental regulatory framework, both nationally and internationally.
If you require further information or assistance, please contact us.
