This document summarizes lobbying regulation in Mexico. It outlines the current rules governing lobbying activities in the House of Representatives and Senate. Recent modifications were made in 2013 during debate over fiscal reform, increasing restrictions and oversight. However, issues remain around the scope of regulation and ensuring transparency. Options for improving the framework include implementing an integrity authority, consolidating registration systems, and developing a draft lobbying law addressing both legislative and executive branches based on international best practices.

1. Lobbying in Mexico
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March, 2014
OECD
Paris, France

2. Index
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1. Facts of Lobbying in Mexico
2. Lobbying in Mexico
3. Background of Regulation
4. Achievement of Regulation
5. Scope of the Current Regulation
6. Preamble of Recent Modifications
7. Recent Modifications caused by Fiscal Reform (October 2013)
8. Is our Current Regulation enough?
9. Issues that need to be addressed
10. Course of Action
11.Draft Law on Lobbying in Mexico
12. Wrap Up

3. 1. Facts of Lobbying in Mexico
258 lobbyists
registered in the House
of Representatives
(Parliamentary
Gazette, October 2012)
The Senate does not
have a Lobbyist
Registry
23 associates to the
National Association of
Professional Lobbyists
(PROCAB)
Number of lobbyists registered
Estimated total annual profit of lobbying firms in
Mexico :
US$20 million dollars.
(Robert Ehrman, founder of “Dynamis Consultores”)
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4. House of Representatives
(Regulated since 2011)
 Lobbying is regulated only in the legislative branch, by the internal Rules of each House.
 The registry of lobbyists as well as lobbying activities are controlled by the Board of
each House.
 Each norm foresees the application, reinforcement and sanctions in case of breach.
House of the Senate
(Regulated since 2010)
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Mexican Congress
2. Lobbying in Mexico

5. Trigger events
In 2005 a congressman alleged that the company
British American Tobacco offered bribes to eight
legislators in return for their votes against the tax
increase on cigarettes.
In 2013, during the debate of the Fiscal Reform, the media
reported that the Soft Drink Industry offered gifts and
bribes to legislators and the agency
Obstacles in the policy-making process
2000-2006: The Federal Public Administration was
unable to move forward on a number of structural
reforms (such as fiscal, labour and energy reforms)
2001: fiscal policy reform was not passed due to the
lack of political consensus
2002-2004: first initiative ballots relating to lobbying
were submitted
Changes in Congress in 1997
Lack of a majority Multi-party forum
3. Background of Regulation
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6.  From 2002 to 2010, several initiative ballots and reform initiatives were proposed.
 None of these initiatives and decree projects prospered during this period of time.
 In 2010 the Rules of the House of the Senate came into force and in 2011, those of
the House of Representatives.
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4. Achievement of Regulation
House of Representatives:
4 pursued the creation of a law and
3 sought to pass amendments to
the Rules.
Senate:
1 initiative ballot aimed at
drafting a new law and 3 decrees
sought to amend the Rules.

7. Title IX Chapter IV
5. Scope of the Current Regulation
Title VIII Chapter III
• Defines Lobbying and lobbyist.
• Requires registration of lobbying firms
and individuals. (Valid during a
Legislature period).
• Bans participation of representatives
and its close family.
• Restricts number of lobbyist working
per commission.
• Prevents legislators from engaging with
stakeholders interests.
• Prohibits legislators to accept gifts or
payments.
• Documents regarding lobbying activity
should be stored and published for
public consultation. Requisits for
lobbyist registration.
• The Board can revoke lobbyist
registration in case of providing false
information to Legislators
• Defines Lobbying activity.
• Legislators report lobbying activity to
the Senate Board.
• Senators can’t accept gifts or payments
from lobbyists. Sanctions apply.
Rules of the House of the SenateRules of the House of Representatives

8. 6. Preamble of Recent Modifications
On September 8th 2013 the Executive
Branch presented the Fiscal Reform to
the House of Representatives
Meanwhile, two controversies regarding
lobbying procedures arose in the media,
offers and bribes suggested from
lobbying agents such as Price
Waterhouse Coopers and the Soft Drink
Industry to congressmen in the House of
Representatives if they voted according
to their interests.
This coverage and exposure of the
corrupt practices and the lack of
transparency, gave place to the
Decree that amends the Rules of
the House of Representatives,
published on October 18th .
• Increase of Income Tax (ISR)
• Increase of Value Added Tax (IVA)
• Increase of Special Production and
Services Tax (IEPS) Soft Drink
Industry
• As well as new rules around
universal social security (SSU), the
universal pension and
unemployment insurance.
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9. Amendments Rules
of the House of
Representatives
Registration quotas
and sanctions for
receiving gifts or
payments of any kind
Restrictions for public
servants carrying out
lobbying activities
7. Recent Modifications caused by
Fiscal Reform (October 2013)
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1. House of Representatives

10. 10
2. House of the Senate
 The situation also triggered an initiative in the Senate to reform its
internal Rules, in order to efficiently regulate the interaction of lobbyists
and congressmen.
 This Decree is being discussed to the date in the Commissions of
Transparency and Parliamentary Practices.
7. Recent Modifications caused by
Fiscal Reform (October 2013)

11. 8. Is our Current Regulation enough?
The creation of a wider integrity framework might arise benefits as well as risks.
 Possible reaction of stakeholders and
pressure groups
 Increase in public spending for the
government
 Improve transparency and integrity of
the public decision-making process
 Generate trust in goverment
 Enhance good governance
 Protect public interest
 Grant equal access to all stakeholders
and interests during the development
and implementation of public policies
 Fair market and industry participation
and competition
 Provide decision-makers with valuable
insights
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12. 9. Issues that need to be addressed
 Build and effective and fair framework that also includes the regulation of the
Executive Branch.
 Consolidate a governing authority averting the increase of government spending.
 Create rules and guidelines in order to set standards of professionalism to lobbyists
and a code of conduct for public officials who are lobbied.
 Avoid and sanction the misuse of confidential information, conflict of interest and
prevent revolving door practices.
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13.  Achieve a set of rules that regulate lobbying at local level that are consistent with the
wider policy and regulatory frameworks.
 Foster a culture of integrity, transparency and trust in government organisations and
the decision making process.
 Provide an adequate degree of transparency to ensure that public officials, citizens and
businesses can obtain sufficient information on lobbying activities .
 Reinforce strategies and practices to achieve compliance.
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9. Issues that need to be addressed

14. Implement an integrity
framework and extend it
to the Executive Branch
Create a regulating
authority external to the
Congress
Improve the
effectiveness of the
Registry System
Mechanisms to sanction
inappropriate influence-
by lobbyists
Policies for managing
conflict of interest and
unbalanced
representation
Disclosure and public
availability of lobbying
information
10. Course of Action
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15.  On June 2013, Mexico participated at the "Forum on Transparency and Integrity in
Lobbying" hosted by the OECD here in Paris, where we had the opportunity to
acknowledge some of the best international practices on lobbying .
 The case study of Lobbying Rules and Procedures that was put together, concluded
that Mexico is located in a poor level of lobbying legislation in regard to the
international experience.
 We analyzed the efficiency of different frameworks, specially the Canadian model,
which presents practical elements to be implemented in Mexico, in order to fill the
gaps and optimize current lobbying activities in the country.
 We have established contact with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of
Canada, in order to broaden our vision and enrich the forthcoming reforms that are to
be made to the Mexican lobbying regulation system.
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11. Draft Law on Lobbying in Mexico

16. 11. Draft Law on Lobbying in Mexico
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SUBSTANTIVE LAW
- Subjects to the Law – Requirements,
obligations and prohibitions.
- Creation of an authority engaged
with lobbying regulation
- Registration of lobbyists
- Types of lobbyists
ADJECTIVE LAW
- Duties and functions of the
authority.
- Requirements and method for
submission of documents and
information.
- Registration rules, certification and
documentation.
- Lobbyists’ Code of conduct
- Lobbyists’ Registrar System
- Offences and sanctions

17.  Mexico suffered a democratic transition during the 90´s, giving way to a much more involved
Congress and society in the policy-making process.
 From 2002 to 2010, several ballot initiatives and decrees to regulate lobbying were proposed;
however, didn´t succeed.
 Emergence of the regulatory framework in the Legislative Branch in 2010 and 2011.
 After having reviewed the functioning of the rules and guidelines related to lobbying, there is an
evident need to make necessary adjustments in light of experience.
 Currently, the Mexican Government is working on a Draft Law on Lobbying in order to adopt the
best international practices and overcome the inefficiencies of the current regulation.
12. Wrap Up
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18. Jorge Ortega González
Director General of Legal Advisory, Contracts and Agreements
Unit of Legal Affairs
Ministry of the Interior of Mexico
jortegag@segob.gob.mx
segob.gob.mx
Thank you
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