On July 25, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) published in the Official Gazette of the Federation the Agreement announcing the administrative simplification measures applied, as well as the issuance and amendment of the formats for procedures under the responsibility of SEMARNAT.
These measures aim to facilitate regulatory compliance, reduce response times, promote the digitization of procedures, and foster a more favorable environment for investment and sustainable development.
Key changes:
1. Digitization of documents
More than 25 procedures will now allow supporting documentation to be submitted in digital format, eliminating the requirement for physical delivery.
2. Fewer requirements and streamlined procedures
Several environmental, forestry, and industrial procedures have been simplified. For example:
- The Preventive Report procedure (SEMARNAT-04-001) was reduced from 10 to 6 requirements.
- The procedure for Authorization of Modifications to Projects with Prior Environmental Approval (SEMARNAT-04-008) now requires 5 instead of 7 documents.
- The Single Environmental License procedure has been merged with the Operating License, shortening the response time to 45 business days and reducing requirements from 11 to 4.
3. Electronic notifications
Applicants will have the option to receive official notifications via email, provided they expressly request it.
Who is affected?
These changes are relevant for individuals and companies that:
- Conduct forestry-related activities (e.g., land-use changes, forest exploitation, timber transport)
- Develop projects with environmental impacts subject to evaluation (e.g., environmental impact assessments, reports, modifications)
- Operate stationary sources of air emissions
Recommendations
- If your company plans to submit an environmental procedure soon, verify whether it is listed among those affected by the new Agreement.
- Bear in mind that, starting August 15, 2025, all relevant procedures must be filed using the new formats and requirements.
- Determine whether any of your upcoming procedures may be submitted electronically to streamline filing and improve tracking.
- Note that procedures already submitted will be processed under the regulations in effect at the time of filing.
If you need guidance on environmental compliance or assistance identifying the applicable formats, Vega Guerrero & Asociados has a specialized team that can support you with preventive reviews and help you adapt your procedures to the new regulations.
