Mexico City Closes Emissions Center's Printing Area Over Irregular Certificates

Mexico City's environmental agency has temporarily shut down the printing area of a vehicle emissions testing center in Azcapotzalco. The Secretariat of the Environment (Sedema) cited irregularities in the process of printing vehicle verification certificates as the reason for the closure.

The inspection, conducted on August 14, 2026, revealed that the verification center, identified by the code AZ-20, was not using a dedicated printer for Type 1 certificates. Instead, it allegedly used the same printer for both Type 1 certificates and exemption certificates. This practice contravened established manual procedures.

Sedema officials observed that the center continued this irregular practice. They documented instances where emission test results were printed on certificates meant for opacity tests. Additionally, diesel vehicle test results appeared on exemption certificates, and administrative queries were printed on various certificate types. The center's personnel admitted that a single printer handled Type 1 certificates, exemption certificates, and administrative queries, and that the center lacked the necessary configuration for dedicated printers per certificate type.

The agency's decision to temporarily close the printing area serves as a safety measure. This action is intended to prevent the emission and distribution of certificates that may not accurately reflect the verification procedures or results. Ensuring the correct issuance of these certificates is crucial for maintaining the integrity of vehicle emission testing, a program designed to control and prevent air pollution from mobile sources.