G/SPS/GEN/1726  
3 September  2019 
(19-5655) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
ANIMAL HEALTH MEASURES TO PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE VIRUS  
THAT CAUSES AFRICAN SWINE FEVER  
COMMUNICATION FROM MEXICO  
The following communication, dated 24 August  2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Mexico . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1.  Pursuant to Article 6 of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, 
the Government of Mexico hereby reports that  on 15 August  2019, the Ministry of Agriculture and 
Rural Development (the Ministry ), through the National Agriculture and Food Health, Safety 
and Quality Service  (SENASICA) , published the Decision  establishing animal health measures to 
prevent the introduction of the virus t hat causes African Swine  Fever  (ASF)  into the territory of 
the United Mexican States.  
2.  The Decision  is mandatory throughout the territory of the United Mexi can States for owners, sole 
administrator s, administrative managers or holders, authorized responsibl e veterinarians and of ficial 
veterinarians from the establishments refer red to in Article 105 of the Federal Law  on Animal Health ; 
importers of live pigs, dogs and cats, susceptible species, pig semen and embryos, swine products 
and by -products , and goods for use or consumption by  such animals ; vehicles, equipment, materials 
and containers pertaining to the aforementioned goods , which enter the country ; verification units, 
certification bodies, testing laboratories, authorized third-party specialists , auxiliary animal health 
bodies, persons entering the country with dogs and/or cats,  and natural or legal persons seeking 
entry into the territory for live pigs, susceptible species, pig semen and embryos, swine products 
and by -products , and goods for use or consumption  by such animals ; vehicles, equipment, materials 
and containers pertaining to such  goods  coming from or hav ing transited through countries or 
regions with outbreaks or positive  cases  of ASF that have been reported to  the World Organisatio n 
for Animal Health ( OIE). 
3.  The importation into the territory of the United Mexican States of the following goods is  
prohibited : live pigs, susceptible species, pig semen and embryos, vehicles or containers in which 
machinery or equipment used for such ani mals is transported, as well as swine products and 
by-products c oming from or having transited through countries or regions with outbreaks or positive 
cases of ASF that have been reported to  the OIE.  
4.  If the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development determine s the existence of a risk to imports  
of regulated goods, it shall immediately  update the animal health requirements or cancel or suspend 
the animal health requirements sheet in  accordance with the Federal La w on Animal Health  and the 
Regulation s thereto,  and other applicable legal provisions.  
5.  All previously issued animal health import certificates that were valid  at the time of th e prohibition  
concerning the goods referred to in Articles 2 and 4 of this Decision , which originate  in and/or come  
from countries or regions with outbreaks or positive cases of ASF that have been reported to  the 
OIE, will be revoked . 
6.  Any natural or legal persons seeking entry into the country with dogs and/or cats from any 
territory in which ASF is present must comply with  the requirements set out in the animal health 
requirements sheet.  G/SPS/GEN/1726  
- 2 - 
  7.  The Ministry, through SENASICA, shall implement , at the points of entry into Mexico , the following 
health measures , based on the risks associated with the origin or provenance of countries in which 
ASF is present : 
- disinfection of the footwear of crew  members  and passengers arriving on international 
flights or vessel s, whether com mercial or private, from countries  in which  the disease is 
present or which are considered a risk by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 
Development , through the use of sanitary floor coverings or disinfectant spray  according 
to the manufacturer's specifications , for the inactivation of  the ASF virus; 
 
- inspection of the luggage of crew  members  and passengers arriving at points of entry into 
Mexico , using the following methods : x-rays, canine units, direct observation, user 
statements, or any other methods established by the Ministry in legal provisions previously 
published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación  (Official Journal ). Any goods identified as 
posing a risk shall be retained for sanitary disposal ; 
 
- prohibition of the unloading  of organic waste that may pose a health risk  from flights 
originating in or coming from countries in which ASF is present or which are considered a 
risk by the Ministry, with the exception of organic waste the unloading of which is 
authorized by the Ministry,  under its supervision , for sanitary disposal by  incineration ; 
 
- prohibition  of the unloading  of organic waste that may pose a health risk, and application 
of stamps, at maritime ports, on food containers from vessels originating in or coming 
from countries in which ASF i s present , or considered a risk by the Ministry, with the 
exception of organic waste the unloading of which is authorized by the Ministry, under its 
supervision, f or sanitary disposal by incineration;  
8.  Epidemiological surveillance shall be carried out in accordance with  the Mexican Official 
Standards, decision s and other relevant legal provisions issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and 
Rural Development . 
9.  Any report ed suspicion s shall be investigated in accordance with  the Mexican Official Standards, 
decision s and other relevant legal provisions issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 
Development.  
10.  The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through SEN ASICA, may inspect and verify 
compliance with this Decision  at any time or place.  
11.  This Decision  shall enter into force the day following its publication in the Official Journal . 
12.  On 19 July 2018, the Ministry, through SENASICA and the Directorate -General of Animal Health , 
submitted to the OIE a self -declaration as a country historically free from  ASF, as no presence of the 
ASF agent had been detected within the territory of the United Mexican States.  
13.  ASF is  included  on the list of diseases contained in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code , and 
therefore is an OIE notifiable disease , as set out in the C hapter entitled "Infection with African swine 
fever virus" of the aforementioned Code . 
14.  ASF is also included in the Decision listing the exot ic and endemic terrestrial and aquatic animal 
diseases and pests notifiable in the United Mexican States , as part of G roup 1 which comprises exotic 
diseases and pests.  
15.  This communication is being submitted for purposes of transparency and in order to provi de 
Members with further information on the current regulatory process in Mexico.  
 
__________