Keiko Fujimori's government submitted to the Chamber of Deputies on Monday, October 19, 2026, the Small-Scale and Artisanal Mining Bill (Ley MAPE), which ends the Comprehensive Mining Formalization Registry (Reinfo) on December 31, 2026, and creates a "consolidation regime" so registrants can complete their formalization from 2027 ([El Peruano](https://elperuano.pe/noticia/307158-poder-ejecutivo-presenta-proyecto-de-ley-mape-ante-la-camara-de-diputados), [La República](https://larepublica.pe/economia/2026/10/19/gobierno-presenta-a-la-camara-de-diputados-el-proyecto-para-crear-la-ley-mape-que-cambios-plantea-para-la-pequena-mineria-hnews-922507)). The bill, signed by the president and Prime Minister Luis Galarreta, is already drawing criticism from experts who see the new regime as an extension of Reinfo under another name.
Reinfo was created in 2016 with an initial 36-month term and has been extended several times; today it is at the center of the debate over informal and illegal mining in the country (Ahora). This is what the MAPE bill proposes and what is needed for it to become law.
What Peru's MAPE bill proposes
| Item | What the bill establishes |
|---|---|
| Closing Reinfo | The current formalization process ends on December 31, 2026 |
| Consolidation regime | From January 1, 2027, for registrants with a valid registration at the end of 2026 |
| Suspended registrants | Remain suspended until the authority decides |
| Ordinary regime | Permanent, for those starting operations outside the current process |
| New agency | FORMAPE, attached to the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem) |
| Procedures | Single Window and Single Electronic Mailbox, run by FORMAPE |
| Traceability | A system tracking minerals from extraction to sale |
| Bank accounts | Banco de la Nación would open accounts for small-scale and artisanal miners |
| Mercury | Progressive reduction until eliminated, with no deadlines set |
Sources: El Peruano, the state's official newspaper, and La República, which detailed the content presented by Deputy Minister of Mines Mayra Figueroa to the Energy and Mines Committee. The bill was approved by the Council of Ministers on October 13.
MAPE bill: how long the consolidation regime lasts
Sources disagree on the end date of the consolidation regime. El Peruano reports it would run until December 31, 2028; La República and Jornada cite June 30, 2028. According to La Opinión, Energy and Mines Minister Guillermo Shinno spoke of a regime ending on December 31, 2028. Until the final text approved by Congress is known, both dates should be read as proposals.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Reinfo created | 2016, with an initial 36-month term |
| Bill approved by the Council of Ministers | October 13, 2026 |
| Submitted to the Chamber of Deputies | October 19, 2026 |
| Proposed end of Reinfo | December 31, 2026 |
| Start of the consolidation regime | January 1, 2027 |
| End of the consolidation regime | June 30 or December 31, 2028, depending on the source |
What Reinfo is and why the government wants to close it
The Comprehensive Mining Formalization Registry (Reinfo) is the list of small-scale and artisanal miners who are in the process of formalizing. While their registration is valid, they may operate at the coordinates they declared. It was created in 2016, under President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, with a 36-month term, and later governments extended it up to five times; the latest extension expires on December 31, 2026 (Ahora). Critics argue that the successive extensions allowed illegal operations to shelter under the registry; those who defend its continuation warn that thousands of small miners would be left without a legal path if it closes without an alternative. The MAPE bill seeks to replace it with a permanent regime.
How many miners are in Reinfo
There is no single figure either. Ahora reports 23,211 registrants who would move to the consolidation regime, while RPP reported before the submission that about 30,000 miners with Reinfo would move to a new two-year formalization regime. The difference may be because not all registrants have a valid registration: suspended ones would not enter automatically.
| Agency | What it would oversee under the bill |
|---|---|
| FORMAPE (Minem) | Authorizations, registrations, environmental assessment and enforcement |
| OEFA | Processing plants above 25 tonnes per day, during the first five years |
| Osinergmin | Safety |
| Sunafil | Labor obligations and workplace safety |
Source: La República. Until FORMAPE is operational, Minem would exercise its functions.
Experts' criticism
Experts consulted by Ahora question the bill from different angles. Beatriz Cortez, of Red Muqui, said "Reinfo will continue, they are just changing its name." Environmental lawyer César Ipenza said the bill "solves absolutely nothing" and warned about traceability risks from opening Banco de la Nación accounts for informal miners. Economist José De Echave, of CooperAcción, said two parallel systems remain and the text does not address the concentration of concessions. Former Deputy Environment Minister Mariano Castro noted that the article on mercury sets no deadlines or targets and that measures to protect headwaters are missing.
What comes next for the MAPE bill in Congress
The bill must be approved by the bicameral Congress, which according to Ahora has on average two months to debate it. The timeline is tight because Reinfo expires on December 31. The discussion coincides with the 90-day delegation of legislative powers to the executive, which the Senate approved this week (see the 27 delegated matters); Prime Minister Galarreta said issues left out will be handled through emergency decrees and bills (Infobae). The government also faces spending on the El Niño phenomenon (see the supplementary budget).
Frequently asked questions
What is Peru's MAPE bill?
The Small-Scale and Artisanal Mining Bill the government submitted on October 19, 2026, to replace the current formalization process.
When does Reinfo end?
The bill proposes closing it on December 31, 2026.
What is the consolidation regime?
A period from 2027 for registrants with a valid Reinfo entry to complete pending requirements. It would end in 2028; sources differ between June and December.
Does the bill ban mercury?
It proposes reducing its use progressively until it is eliminated, but without deadlines or targets, according to experts.
Is it law yet?
No. It must be approved by Congress.
