Mexican Official Standards (NOM)

The Mexican Official Environmental Standards (NOMs) are essential regulatory tools to protect the environment and public health. They establish mandatory technical limits, criteria, and procedures for companies and public entities in key areas such as wastewater, drinking water quality, waste, and air emissions. Below are five essential NOMs:

1. NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021 – Wastewater discharges
   Establishes the maximum permissible limits of pollutants in discharges into national receiving bodies. Its update strengthens the protection of aquatic ecosystems and human health.
2. NOM-127-SSA1-2021 – Drinking water quality
   Regulates microbiological, physical, and chemical parameters of water for human use and consumption. Compliance ensures the sanitary safety of distributed water.
3. NOM-161-SEMARNAT-2011 – Special handling waste
   Defines which wastes are considered for special handling and which require a management plan, promoting segregation, control, and recovery.
4. NOM-052-SEMARNAT-2005 – Hazardous waste
   Establishes the characteristics, identification procedure, and official list of hazardous wastes, facilitating safe and legal management.
5. NOM-085-SEMARNAT-1994 – Atmospheric emissions
   Limits pollutant emissions from stationary sources using fossil fuels, such as boilers or industrial plants, to improve air quality.

These standards represent a minimum legal compliance baseline for organizations operating in Mexico. In addition to avoiding penalties, proper implementation contributes to more efficient and sustainable operations.

For more information, check out our blog.

Need to adapt your operations to environmental NOMs or implement a compliance system? At airCO2, we help you identify your obligations and apply practical solutions to comply with Mexican environmental legislation.