Mexico Enacts General Law for the Circular Economy Establishing Nationwide Circularity and Extended Producer Responsibility Framework

On January 22, 2026, Mexico published the General Law for the Circular Economy in the Official Journal of the Federation, with the legislation entering into force on January 19, 2026. The law establishes a comprehensive national legal framework requiring producers, importers, and public authorities to integrate circular economy principles across product design, production, consumption, and waste management. Central to the law is the introduction of a circular management system linked to extended producer responsibility (EPR), under which obligated companies must develop and register Circular Management Plans supported by life-cycle assessments. The legislation creates the National Circular Economy System, chaired by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and mandates the development of a National Circular Economy Program aligned with Mexico’s long-term development strategy. The law also introduces compliance pathways, policy instruments, education and innovation measures, and enforcement mechanisms under existing environmental sanction regimes. State governments must harmonize local legislation within 180 days, strengthening consistency in circular economy implementation nationwide.