G/SPS/GEN/2191   
18 December 2023  
(23-8658) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: Spanish  
 
  
DECISION DECLARING THE TERRITORY OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES  
TO BE AN AREA FREE FROM AVIAN INFLUENZA A, SUBTYPE H5N1  
COMMUNICATION FROM MEXICO  
The following communication, received on 28 November 2023, is being circulated at the request of 
the delegation of Mexico . 
 
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1.  Pursuant to Article 6 of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 
on the subject of  regional conditions, including pest - or disease -free areas and areas of low pest or 
disease prevalence, and in keeping with the principle of transparency, we hereby notify the "Decision 
declaring the territory of the United Mexican States to be an area fr ee from avian influenza A, 
subtype H5N1", which was published in the Official Journal of the Federation on 4 October 2023 and 
entered into effect the following day.  
2.  The territory of the United Mexican States has been declared an area free from avian influe nza 
A, subtype H5N1. In order to guarantee that the territory of the United Mexican States remains free 
from avian influenza A, subtype H5N1, it is necessary to maintain epidemiological surveillance, 
prevention, diagnostic and traceability measures, measur es for the control of the movement, 
transport, transit, marketing and importation of poultry and poultry products and by -products and 
measures in industrialized production units, back yards and concerning wild birds, in accordance 
with Articles 6 (subparag raph I), 24, 68, 77, 89, 160 and 161 of the Federal Law on Animal Health, 
Articles 41, 50, 51, 66 and 87 of the Decision announcing the campaign and animal health measures 
for the diagnosis, prevention, control and eradication of notifiable avian influenza  in areas of the 
United Mexican States where this disease is present and other applicable legal provisions.  
3.  The authority responsible for the Decision is the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 
acting through the National Agri -Food Health, Safet y and Quality Service.  
4.  Section 10, Chapter 10.4, Article 10.4.6. of the World Organi sation for Animal Health Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code establishes that if infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza virus has 
occurred in poultry in a free countr y, the free status may be regained after a minimum period of 
28 days after a stamping -out policy has been completed and provided that surveillance has been 
carried out during that period and has demonstrated the absence of infection.  
5.  The declaration of the  United Mexican States as free from avian influenza A, subtype H5N1, 
facilitates the marketing of live poultry and poultry products and by -products originating in the 
country.  
6.  WTO Members are hereby informed that this Decision is to be used as a reference in commercial 
dealings in live poultry  and poultry  products and by -products originating in the United Mexican 
States.  
7.  This communication is being submitted for purposes of transparency and in order to provide 
Members with further information on the current  regulatory process in Mexico.  G/SPS/GEN/2191  
 
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  8.  The document is available at:  
https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5703833&fecha=04/10/2023#gsc.tab=0 . 
 
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