SICT Publishes Consultation on Hazardous Cargo Draft NOM

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT) has published PROY-NOM-011-SICT2/2025 in the Official Gazette (DOF) a public consultation notice a draft Official Mexican Standard (NOM) that would update the rules for moving “limited quantities” of packaged hazardous goods on federal roads and bridges. 

The proposal arrives as Mexico City tightens its own controls on hazardous cargo circulation after the Iztapalapa tanker explosion, including a 30km/h speed limit for vehicles carrying dangerous materials, a ban on trucks hauling over 40,000L of toxic materials, and night-only circulation (10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m) for units transporting more than 20,000L of hydrocarbons. 

What the Draft Standard Covers

PROY-NOM-011-SICT2/2025 would set the technical conditions that must be met to transport certain hazardous goods when they are packed in small-format shipments that qualify as “limited quantities.” Its objective is to establish the specifications that apply to the transport of these packaged hazardous goods under this modality. 

The draft would be mandatory for shippers, carriers, and consignees handling limited goods that move through federal-jurisdiction roads and bridges. 

The draft lays out practical condition packaging, consolidation, and compliance planning. Different hazard classes could be placed in the same outer package as long as they are compatible and would not create a dangerous interaction in case of a spill. No segregation will be required inside the vehicle or container. General cargo units can only carry limited quantities that comply with the draft general cargo transport units. The text also indicates these shipments would not be subject to the full hazardous materials transport regime.

PROY-NOM-011-SICT2/2025 also includes clear weight caps. As a baseline, the draft caps the gross mass per package at 30kg. For certain configurations like strapped trays (with exceptions), it sets a 20kg limit per package. It also specifies scenarios where intermediate packaging is required. For example corrosive liquids in inner receptacles made of glass, porcelain, or similar materials must be placed in a compatible, rigid intermediate package. 

Mexico City’s new local laws restrict hazardous cargo movement through dense urban corridors, targeting speed, allowed volumes, and circulation windows. 

In parallel, a federal draft seeks to tighten the technical definition of what qualifies as “limited quantities” and how those shipments must be prepared. Together, the signals point in the same direction: more scrutiny and clearer rules for hazardous cargo, with pressure increasing on shippers and carriers to demonstrate compliance from packaging design to on-road execution.

Background: Iztapalapa Tragedy

On Sept. 10, 2025, a liquefied petroleum gas tanker belonging to Transportes Silza lost control on the Mexico–Texcoco highway. The vehicle collided with barriers, causing a rupture that released gas over a 180m radius. A spark ignited the cloud, resulting in a massive fire that killed 28 people.

The accident led local authorities to make sweeping measures to regulate the circulation of vehicles transporting hazardous substances, reports MBN. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada had previously  detailed a 13-point plan to strengthen oversight of hazardous cargo in the capital. Among the most significant measures are:

• Lower Speed Limits: Vehicles carrying dangerous materials must not exceed 30 km/h

• Capacity Restrictions: Trucks carrying over 40,000L of toxic materials will be banned; those with more than 20,000L of hydrocarbons may only circulate between 10 p.m. and  a.m.

• Route Control: Vehicles carrying hazardous loads will be restricted from secondary roads and controlled-access highways

• Enforcement Technology: Mobile radar systems will be installed at the city’s five major highway entrances to monitor compliance

• Licensing and Training: Operators must obtain the new E12 license, requiring certified courses on hazardous cargo handling issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT)

• Insurance and Compliance: Vehicles must present authorized technical reports from the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment (ASEA)

• Increased Penalties: Fines for violations will be doubled, and random inspection points will be established across the city