The Mexican Government has announced a new regulation that further restricts importation of machinery into Mexico.

The new rule, which took effect on April 1, means a government-issued permit is required to import used internal combustion forklifts of up to seven tonnes capacity and knockable boom cranes.

As the regulation is new, it is unclear how it will be applied, and under what circumstances permits would be granted or import denied. I advise exporters planning to move machines to Mexico to check to avoid problems on entry.

At this early stage, it appears a permit will be granted if an importer can prove he/she is the final user of the machine. Resellers or distributors will be denied permits. The new regulation will not apply to battery electric forklifts, nor forklifts of more than seven tonnes capacity.

Rolf Slobotzky is Forkliftaction.com News's Mexico columnist. He has been in the industry for more than 50 years and is a former president of the Mexican Association of Machinery Dealers.