Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 8/25/2004

**GAIN Report Number:** MX4312

MX4312

**Mexico**

**Product Brief**

**Christmas Trees**

**2004**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Bruce Zanin

ATO

**Prepared by:**

Michael Lehrer

**Report Highlights:**

The Mexican market for US Christmas trees was over \$9 million in 2003.
The market for imported Christmas trees is growing and the US enjoys a
95 percent import market share. Mexicans are increasingly using
Christmas trees as a symbol of the holiday and domestic production is
not sufficent to meet rising consumer demand.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Mexico (MX)

\[MX\]

# Section I. Market Overview

## 

The Mexican market for Christmas trees has been growing over the last
ten years. In 2003, the United States exported \$9.35 million in
Christmas trees to Mexico, which resulted in an import market share of
95 percent. Christmas trees have become more popular in Mexican
Christmas celebrations known as "posadas". The Christmas tree is used
primarily as a symbol of the holiday season, but not as a place to put
presents.

# Table 1: Advantages and Challenges facing US Exporters of Christmas trees to Mexico

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| # Advantages                      | **Challenges**                    |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Proximity to the US; lower        | Rising competition from Canada    |
| transportation costs.             | both in terms of price and        |
|                                   | quality.                          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| US trees, primarily those from    | Threat of substitution from       |
| Oregon, are highly recognized in  | artificial trees because they are |
| the marketplace.                  | less expensive over the           |
|                                   | long-term.                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| US trees are almost exclusively   | Mexican trees are lower in price, |
| offered in retail chains.         | and can substitute for higher     |
|                                   | quality, more expensive US trees  |
|                                   | during times of economic          |
|                                   | weakness.                         |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Mexicans are increasing their use |                                   |
| of Christmas trees as a symbol of |                                   |
| the holiday.                      |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Rising preference by Mexicans for | Phytsanitary regulations have     |
| US quality Christmas trees.       | blocked the importation of many   |
|                                   | tree varieties from many US       |
|                                   | states.                           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| US Christmas trees enter          |                                   |
| duty-free.                        |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

###### Section II. Market Sector Opportunities and Challenges

a.  **Domestic Production**

Mexico's Christmas tree production is not sufficient to meet domestic
demand and is not recognized for its quality or diversity. According to
a February 2000 Christmas tree production study published by the Mexican
Ministry of Natural Resources- Forestry Division (SEMARNAT), natural
forests were used for Christmas tree production during the 1970s and
1980s, but starting in the 1990s commercial production shifted to
planations and nurseries. Based on the most recently available data,
Mexico has 2,000 hectares of specialized plantations and nurseries that
produce about 600,000 Christmas trees annually. Nurseries account for
the majority of the production. There are over 400 nurseries producing
Christmas trees on 1,250 hectares, primarily concentrated in the areas
of Puebla and Veracruz. In addition, ninety specialized plantations
cover an estimated 700 hectares. Those states with the most land
dedicated to plantation production are Mexico (424 hectares), Nuevo Leon
(89 hectares), and Veracruz (60 hectares). Much of the production in
Mexico is dedicated to the *Pinus Ayacahuite, Pinus Cembroides,* and
*Abies Religiosa* varieties.

Most local producers sell Christmas trees directly from their production
area, though there are some local producers that sell to neighborhood
markets. Retailers tend to purchase US and Canadian production.

**Table 2: Christmas Tree Production, 1981-1999**

(Thousands of trees)

+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| # Ye     | *            | **Specialized     | **Natural   | **      |
| ar {#yea | *Nurseries** | Plantation**      | Forest**    | TOTAL** |
| r-1 .unn |              |                   |             |         |
| umbered} |              |                   |             |         |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1981     | 300          | 32                | 75          | 407     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1982     | 157          | 53                | 104         | 314     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1983     | 198          | 67                | 130         | 395     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1984     | 203          | 63                | 202         | 468     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1985     | 250          | 70                | 213         | 533     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1986     | 400          | 100               | 300         | 800     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1987     | 276          | 81                | 187         | 544     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1988     | 300          | 80                | 112         | 492     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1989     | 328          | 105               | 221         | 654     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1990     | 310          | 60                | 0           | 370     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1991     | 349          | 31                | 0           | 380     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1992     | 400          | 67                | 0           | 467     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1993     | 615          | 73                | 0           | 688     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1994     | 609          | 89                | 0           | 698     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1995     | 569          | 57                | 7           | 633     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1996     | 570          | 70                | 0           | 640     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1997     | 395          | 194               | 0           | 589     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1998     | 395          | 225               | 0           | 620     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+
| 1999     | 395          | 240               | 0           | 635     |
+----------+--------------+-------------------+-------------+---------+

**Source:** Dirección General Forestal SRN-SEMARNAT, 2000

b.  **Imports and Foreign Competition**

Over 90 percent of imported Christmas trees are from the United States.
The majority of US trees sold in Mexico are from the state of Oregon.
According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Mexico accounted for
nine percent of its total exports of Christmas trees in 2003, worth \$8
million in sales. Retailers and distributors report that they primarily
import Douglas and Noble fir trees from the state of Oregon.

The main US competitor is Canada, whose import market share is less than
10 percent in Mexico. However, there are indications that Canadian trees
are becoming more competitive with US origin trees because they are
offering trees at competitive prices.

c.  **Domestic Consumption**

The Mexican government does not have any official statistics on
Christmas tree purchases. However, US Department of Commerce export
statistics indicate that Mexican imports of US Christmas trees have
grown over the last 10 years and Mexican distributors believe that this
increase reflects overall growth in demand. Mexico has risen from being
the United States' fourth largest export market for Christmas trees, to
its third largest export market over this period. Consumption in Mexico
is reported by importers to be strongest in Mexico City and surrounding
areas, followed by Guadalajara, the border region, and the southeastern
region of Mexico (Oaxaca and Chiapas).

**Table 3: US Christmas Tree Exports to Mexico**

![](media/image2.wmf)

**Source:** US Department of Commerce

d.  **Market Size and Structure**

Mexico has over 104 million inhabitants, of which 55 percent are between
5 and 29 years old. Furthermore, the population is equally divided
between men and women. Mexico City has an estimated population of over
20 million. The second largest city is Guadalajara, with 6.3 million
people and is located 290 miles northwest of Mexico City. Monterrey
occupies the next position with 4 million people, located in the
northern border state of Nuevo Laredo, and is the state with the highest
per capita income in the country.

Christmas trees are traditionally imported through third-party
distributors usually found in the Central de Abasto (central market) in
Mexico City. These distributors supply retail chains, local markets, and
street vendors. However, in the last five years the larger retailers
have started to import directly from exporters. This shift in import
practices along with the unpredictability of the market forced many
distributors from the market in the last five years.

The major retailers that import Christmas trees directly include: Walmex
(Walmart, Sam's Club, Superama, Aurerra, and Bodega Aurerra), Comercial
Mexicana (Comercial Mexicana, Mega Comercial, Bodega Comercial, and
Sumesa), and Gigante (Gigante,

Bodega Gigante, and SuperG). Regional chains like Soriana (northern
area), Chedraui (east and southeast), and Casa Ley (northwest) also
commercially sell Christmas trees, but have not yet shifted to direct
imports.

###### 

###### Section III. Entry Strategy

a.  **Business Culture**

Mexico and the United States are neighbors, but are worlds apart when it
comes to culture. Doing business in Mexico can be easy, but also it can
be quite complicated for an exporter from the United States for many
reasons including a language barrier. Sometimes the difference between
success and failure is just a matter of a positive attitude and
patience.

Personal relationships are the primary base of Mexican business
relationships because Mexicans like personal contact: they deal with
*people*, not companies. Therefore, an email or a fax is not appropriate
for initial contact. Also, the concept that "time is money" should be
left at the border because developing personal relationships is more
important to Mexicans than immediately getting "down to business". In
the face of a disagreement, Mexicans tend to be skilled at diplomacy and
choose to avoid confrontation and loss of face. In a potential
confrontation they strive to reach a consensus without having clearly
defined winners and losers.

The best way to understand the Mexican market is by visiting the country
and talking to buyers, retailers, distributors, and other players to
prepare a more effective entry strategy. US exporters must do their
market research, which includes finding appropriate business contacts
and thoroughly reviewing Mexican import regulations. The following would
be recommended procedures in order to start a business relationship in
Mexico:

1.  Contact the Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Mexico City or
    Monterrey. The ATO issues a variety of reports that can assist you
    with information on the market potential for products and on
    exporting procedures. All of these reports can be accessed via the
    Internet. http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/default.asp
    Beyond providing reports, the ATO staff can provide a variety of
    services, see below.

2.  When contacting a person on your own **do**:

    a.  Speak Spanish, or at least try. Mexicans appreciate foreigners
        trying to speak Spanish no matter if, in the end, conversations
        are held in English or something in between. Though many
        educated Mexicans speak English, many professional business
        people do not. Assume business and communication will be
        conducted in Spanish, and have a translator or a person working
        for you that speaks Spanish.

    b.  Respect Mexico's timing because the pace is different than in
        the United States. Business meetings are seldom carried on at
        the office. Lunch meetings are customary, which go longer
        depending on the importance of the business.

    c.  Keep in mind that office hours are different in Mexico: 9 AM to
        7 PM. Lunch break is usually one to two hours, at 2 PM.

    d.  Be flexible. In spite of modernity and NAFTA, always remember it
        is another country, and another culture after all.

3.  When contacting a person on your own **do not**:

    a.  Expect them to speak English. Though most Mexicans will say they
        do speak English, truth is few really do.

    b.  Expect them to cope with the American way of doing business.

    c.  Rely on faxes or emails as secure means of dealing. As stated
        above, Mexicans deal with *people*, not with machines.

    d.  Keep a tight schedule. The person you are meeting might keep you
        waiting for a while, or just moving from one end of town to
        another might take longer than expected.

Finally, finding a good, reliable importer/distributor or developing a
relationship with a retailer who imports directly is a key component to
export sales in Mexico. A good distributor should promote sales and make
sure that the imported products are available at points of sale.
Importers/distributors serve as a link to buyers and in-country
representatives, have the expertise to handle complicated regulations,
and can troubleshoot problems at the border. Avoiding these key links in
the distribution process to save money will almost always result in a
loss of resources.

b.  **Trade Services Available and Events**

The Agricultural Trade Offices (ATOs) in Mexico are located in Mexico
City and Monterrey. Their function is to assist US businesses to access
the market by providing a variety of services such as: sponsoring US
Pavilions in trade shows, provide information about local distributors,
and arrange services from a contractor (Ag Aides) who can set up
individual meetings in the country for a fee. For more information on
available services, or to connect with our Ag Aides, please contact our
ATO offices directly.

US firms should also consider using a variety of marketing tools to
effectively distribute their products in Mexico. These promotional
activities could include:

-   Preparing brochures and promotional materials in Spanish,

-   Hosting technical seminars to inform end users, distributors, and
    retailers of new technologies, innovations and product advantages,
    and

-   Being involved with the ATO who continuously organize marketing
    campaigns to support American companies exporting to Mexico.

# Section IV. Import Requirements 

a.  **Tariff, taxes, quotas**

NAFTA reduced Christmas tree tariffs to zero as of 1994. Christmas trees
are exempt from paying the 15 percent value-added tax (IVA in Mexico)
collected by Mexican Customs on non-food products. The only relevant
taxes and charges for Christmas trees are for customs brokers, who
charge an average of 0.5 percent of the total value plus storage and
handling fees.

b.  **Phytosanitary Requirements**

SEMARNAT and the Ministry of Agriculture (SAGARPA) established
santiation requirements for imports of Christmas trees, which are found
in Mexico's Federal Register (Diario Oficial). The Mexican regulation
for Christmas trees is titled NOM-O13-RECNAT-1997 for the following
species: *Pinus sylvestris, Pseudotsuga menziesii,* and the *Abies
genus.* Other requirements stated in NOM-O13-RECNAT-1997 for imported
Christmas trees are as follows:

1.  The trees shall come without roots and soil.

2.  Trees should be mechanically shaken in their place of origin before
    being transported.

3\. Trees should not carry paint on the foliage.

4.  All trees are subject to a methyl bromide treatment. Mexican
    authorities shall not be liable for the phytotoxic effect that this
    product may cause on Christmas trees.

5.  Interested parties must submit the international phytosanitary
    certificate (IFC).

6.  White pines of certain varieties (see table 3 below) that carry
    *Cronartium ribicola* are banned from importation.

7.  Only trees coming from zones free from *Lymantria dispar* and
    *Tomicus piniperda* infestations will be allowed in the country.
    There are some US states under quarantine; see tables 4 and 5,
    respectively.

Other federal regulations have established that the marketing of trees
require submitting a commercial invoice as proof of the legal origin of
the tree. The Mexican Federal Agency for Environmental Protection
(PROFEPA) requires that growers use special labels for forest
supervision and monitoring purposes.

On June 21, 2004, SEMARNAT published a proposal to update the 1997 NOM
that regulates the importation of Christmas trees to Mexico. This
proposal, if implemented, will expand the current regulation to regulate
potted Christmas trees and all species of the genus *Pinus*.
Furthermore, the proposal also introduces sampling and implementation
procedures for the pest *Cylindrocopturus furnissi* and the pathogen
*Phytophthora ramorum*. This proposal may be accepted or eliminated in
part or in its entirety. Any regulatory changes could take place over
the next six months to two years, but currently the 1997 NOM 13 is still
applicable. Producers and locales are advised to work with the Animal
Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS/USDA) on issues related to
the variety and locality prohibitions.

**Table 4: White Pine Tree Varieties Prohibited for Importation**

  ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------
  Pinus albicaulis       P. aristata              P. armandii

  P. ayacahuitte         P. balfouriana           P. embra

  P. dalantensis         P. fenzeliana            P. flexilis

  P. griffithi           P. himekomatsu           P. koriaensis

  P. lambertiana         P. monticola             P. morrisonicola

  P. parvifolia          P. peuce                 P. pentaphylla

  P. pumila              P. reflexa               P. sibirica

  P. strobiformis        P. strobus               P. wallichiana

  P. wangii                                       
  ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------

**Source:** NOM-013-RECNAT-1997, Diario Oficial Mexicana

##### Table 5: Approved Entry Points in Mexico for Importation of Christmas Trees

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **Border Points**                   

  Tijuana, Baja California            Mexicali, Baja California

  San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora       Nogales, Sonora

  Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua            Piedras Negras, Coahuila

  Colombia, Nuevo Leon                Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas

  Ciudad Reynosa, Tamaulipas          Ciudad Miguel Aleman, Tamaulipas

  Matamoros, Tamaulipas               

  **Airports**                        

  Mexico City International Airport   Monterrey International Airport

  **Harbors**                         

  Veracruz, Veracruz                  Manzanillo, Colima
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

**Source:** NOM-013-RECNAT-1997, Diario Oficial Mexicana

**Table 6: US States under quarantine for *L mantria dis ar* by county**

+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| ### State           | **County**                                     |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Conneticut          | Entire State                                   |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Delaware            | Entire State                                   |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| District of         | Entire District                                |
| Columbia            |                                                |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Maine               | **Entire Counties of**: Androscoggin,          |
|                     | Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln,  |
|                     | Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington, and York.        |
|                     |                                                |
|                     | **Aroosktook**- Cities of: Benedicta, Island   |
|                     | Falls, and Sherman Mills                       |
|                     |                                                |
|                     | **Fairfield**- Cities of: East Wilton,         |
|                     | Farmington, Jay, Kingfield, New Sharon,        |
|                     | Phillips, Rangeley, Strong, Temple, Weld,      |
|                     | Wilton                                         |
|                     |                                                |
|                     | **Oxford-** Cities of: Andover, Bethel,        |
|                     | Brownfield, Buckfield, Canton, Denmark,        |
|                     | Dixfield, Fryeburg, Hebron, Hiram, Lovell,     |
|                     | Mexico, Newry, Norway, Oxford, Paris, Peru,    |
|                     | Porter, Roxbury, Rumford, Sumner, Waterfod     |
|                     |                                                |
|                     | **Penobscot-** Cities of: Brangor, Bradford,   |
|                     | Bradley, Brewer, Burlington, Carmel,           |
|                     | Charleston, Corinna, Dexter, Dixmont, East     |
|                     | Millinocket, Eddington, Etna, Exeter, Garland, |
|                     | Hampden, Hermon, Holden, Howland, Hudson,      |
|                     | Kenduskeag, Kingman, Lagrange, Lee, Levant,    |
|                     | Lincoln, Mattawamkeag, Medway, Milford,        |
|                     | Millinocket, Newport, Old Town, Orono,         |
|                     | Orrington, Passadumkeag, Stacyville, Stetson,  |
|                     | and Winn.                                      |
|                     |                                                |
|                     | **Someret-** Cities of: Anson, and Athens.     |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Maryland            | Entire State                                   |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Massachusets        | Entire State                                   |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Michigan            | All counties **except**: Alger, Baraga, Delta, |
|                     | Dickinson, Houghton, Iron, Kalkaska, Keweenaw, |
|                     | Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, Schoolcraft,  |
|                     | and the Upper Pennisula                        |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| New Hampshire       | Entire State                                   |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| New Jersey          | Entire State                                   |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| New York            | Entire State                                   |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| North Carolina      | Entire County of Curritcuk                     |
|                     |                                                |
|                     | **Dare County**: The area bounded by a line    |
|                     | beginning at the intersection of State Road    |
|                     | 1208 and Roanoke Sound; then easterly along;   |
|                     | this road to its junction with State Road      |
|                     | 1206; then southerly along; this road to its   |
|                     | intersection with US Highway Business 158;     |
|                     | then easterly along an imaginary line to its   |
|                     | intersection with 111E Atlantic Ocean; then    |
|                     | northwesterely along the coastline to its      |
|                     | intersection with the Dare-Cuurituck county    |
|                     | line; then westerly along this county line to  |
|                     | its intersection with the Currituck Sound;     |
|                     | then southeasterly along this sound to the     |
|                     | point of beginning                             |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Ohio                | Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Lake, Mahoning  |
|                     | Counties.                                      |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Pennsylvania        | Entire State                                   |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Rhode Island        | Entire State                                   |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Vermont             | Entire State                                   |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| Virginia            | **Cities of**: Alexandria, Buena Vista,        |
|                     | Charlottesville Chesapeake City, Colonial      |
|                     | Heights, Fairfax, Falls Church, Franklin,      |
|                     | Fredericksburg, Hampton, Harrisonburg,         |
|                     | Hopewell, Lexington, Manassas, Manassas Park,  |
|                     | Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Poquoson,   |
|                     | Portsmouth, Richmond, Staunton, Suffolk,       |
|                     | Virginia Beach, Waynesboro, Williamsburg,      |
|                     | Winchester                                     |
|                     |                                                |
|                     | **Counties of:** Accomack, Albemarle, Amelia,  |
|                     | Amherst, Arlington, Augusta, Buckingham,       |
|                     | Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Clarke,  |
|                     | Culpeper, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex,        |
|                     | Fairfax, Fouquier, Fluvanna, Franklin,         |
|                     | Frederick, Gloucester, Goochland, Greene,      |
|                     | Hannover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City,  |
|                     | King and Queen, King George, King William,     |
|                     | Lancaster, Laudoun, Louisa, Madison, Mathews,  |
|                     | Middlesex, Neslon, New Kent, Northampton,      |
|                     | Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Page,        |
|                     | Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince |
|                     | William, Rappahannock, Richmond, Rockbridge,   |
|                     | Shenandoah, Southampton, Spotsylvania,         |
|                     | Stafford, surry, Sussex, Warren, Westmoreland, |
|                     | York.                                          |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| West Virginia       | Entire counties of: Barbour, Berkeley, Brooke, |
|                     | Grant, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Jefferson,   |
|                     | Marion, Marshall, Mineral, Monongalia, Morgan, |
|                     | Ohio, Pendelton, Pocahontas, Preston,          |
|                     | Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, Wetzel.              |
+---------------------+------------------------------------------------+

**Source:** NOM-013-RECNAT-1997, Diario Oficial Mexicana

**Table 7: uS States under quarantine for *Tomicus ini erda* by county**

+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **State**          | #### *County*                                   |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| Illinois           | Boone, Champaign, Cook, Du Page, Grundy,        |
|                    | Iriquous, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, La Salle,    |
|                    | Lake, Lee, Lingston, McHenry, McLean, Piatt,    |
|                    | Stephenson, Vermillion, Will, Winnebago         |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| Indiana            | Adams, Allen, Benton, Blackford, De Kalb,       |
|                    | Delaware, Elkhart, Fulton, Grant, Huntington,   |
|                    | Jasper, Kosciusco, Lagrange, Lake, LaPorte,     |
|                    | Marshall, Miami, Newton, Noble, Porter,         |
|                    | Pulaski, Randolf, Starke, Steuben, Tippecanoe,  |
|                    | Wabash, Wells, White, Whitely                   |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| Maryland           | Allengany                                       |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| Michigan           | Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun,  |
|                    | Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Huron, Ionia,  |
|                    | Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee,       |
|                    | Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Saginaw,   |
|                    | Saint Joseph, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van |
|                    | Buren, Washtenaw                                |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| New York           | Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie,        |
|                    | Genessee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, |
|                    | Orleans, Oswego, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne,        |
|                    | Wyoming                                         |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| Ohio               | Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Carroll,   |
|                    | Columbiana, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Defiance,       |
|                    | Delaware, Erie, Fulton, Geaugua, Hancock,       |
|                    | Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Holmes, Huron,         |
|                    | Jeffereson, Knox, Lake, Lorain, Lucas,          |
|                    | Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Monroe, Ottawa,       |
|                    | Portage, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Stark,     |
|                    | Summit Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert,   |
|                    | Wayne, Williams, Wood, Wyandot                  |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| Pennsylvania       | Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cameron,  |
|                    | Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie,       |
|                    | Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer,    |
|                    | Venango, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland       |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+

**Source:** NOM-013-RECNAT-1997, Diario Oficial Mexicana

**Section V.** **Contact Information**

Agricultural Trade Office- Mexico City

Bruce Zanin, Director

Jaime Balmes #8-201

Col. Los Morales Polanco

11510 Mexico, D.F.

Tel: (011-52)(55) 5280-5291

Fax: (011-52)(55) 5281-6093

E-mail: atomexico@usda.gov

Agricultural Trade Office- Monterrey

Dan Martinez, Director

Oficinas en el Parque Torrell

Blvd. Díaz Ordaz No. 140, Piso 7

Col. Santa María

64650 Monterrey, N.L.

Tel.: (011-52-81) 8333-5289

Fax: (011-52-81) 8333-1248

E-mail: atomonterrey@usda.gov

Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS)- Mexico

Dale Maki, Director

Sierra Nevada 115

01100 Mexico D.F.

Phone: (011-52-55) 1997-1508

Fax: (011-52-55) 1997-1527

E-mail: Dale.Maki@aphis.usda.gov