Overview
- Semarnat published a formal agreement in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on July 20 that took effect Tuesday, July 21, 2026, putting the new rules into force nationwide.
- The agreement bars exploration, exploitation and mineral processing inside federally designated Áreas Naturales Protegidas, removing any automatic right to operate based on a mining concession.
- Authorizations to place mine waste and tailings in protected areas, wetlands, riverbeds or federal water zones are permanently prohibited and cannot be granted.
- Environmental approvals are now independent from mining concessions and the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (Conanp) must produce binding technical reports for impact evaluations.
- The Supreme Court backed applying the stricter rules to pre-2023 concessions in a July 3, 2026 ruling, but on-the-ground enforcement will depend on Semarnat and Conanp capacity to review cases and carry out inspections, affecting mining companies and nearby communities.