Overview
- Mexico’s finance ministry said it is open to reviewing the fiscal classification of ready‑to‑drink electrolyte beverages, confirming the proposal is under discussion in the 2026 budget debates.
- PVEM and PT deputies are advancing measures to remove medicine status from many commercial electrolyte drinks, applying flavored‑beverage treatment for tax purposes and subjecting them to NOM‑051 warning labels if thresholds are exceeded.
- The initiative would impose the proposed 2026 IEPS of 3.08 pesos per liter plus 16% VAT, with narrowly defined exemptions for WHO‑standard oral rehydration solutions used in institutional health programs.
- Legislators estimate the change could raise about 5 billion pesos in 2026, with analysts projecting noticeable shelf‑price increases, such as an Electrolit liter rising from roughly 33 pesos to above 41 pesos if approved.
- Market data show rapid category growth—tens of millions of liters sold monthly and broad consumer penetration—with Electrolit, produced by PiSA Farmacéutica, identified as the leading brand likely to be affected.