G/SPS/GEN/1349  
16 July 2014  
(14-4118)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: Spanish  
 
  DECLARATION OF AREAS FREE FROM LARGE AVOCADO SEED WEEVILS ( HEILIPUS 
LAURI ), SMALL AVOCADO SEED WEEVILS ( CONOTRACHELUS AGUACATAE  
AND C. PERSEAE ) AND AVOCADO SEED MOTHS ( STENOMA CATENIFER ) 
COMMUNICATION FROM MEXICO 
The following communication, dated 14 July 2014, is being circulated at the request 
of the delegation of Mexico. 
 
_______________ 
  
1.  Pursuant to Article 7 of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures and paragraph 3(b) of Annex B thereto, Mexico hereby advises WTO Members that the Decision declaring the municipalities of Tetela del Volcán and Yecapixtla in the State of Morelos 
to be an area free from the large avocado seed weevil ( Heilipus lauri ), the small avocado seed 
weevil ( Conotrachelus aguacatae  and C. perseae ) and the avocado seed moth ( Stenoma catenifer ) 
was published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación  (Mexican Official Journal) on 2 July 2014. 
2.  The notified Decision declares the municipalities of Tetela del Volcán and Yecapixtla in the 
State of Morelos to be an area free from the large avocado seed weevil ( Heilipus lauri ), the small 
avocado seed weevil ( Conotrachelus aguacatae  and C. perseae ) and the avocado seed 
moth ( Stenoma catenifer ), in accordance with the procedures indicated in Mexican Official 
Standard NOM-066-FITO-2002 establishing specifications for the phytosanitary management 
and movement of avocados, and Mexican Official Standard NOM-069-FITO-1995 on the establishment and recognition of pest-free areas. Phytosanitary measures were taken to determine 
the absence of these pests based on phytosanitary status assessments. 
3.  The Decision was published in order to ensure that the municipalities of Tetela del Volcán 
and Yecapixtla in the State of Morelos remain free from the large avocado seed weevil 
(Heilipus lauri ), the small avocado seed weevil ( Conotrachelus aguacatae  and C. perseae ) and the 
avocado seed moth ( Stenoma catenifer ) and apply the phytosanitary measures to maintain and 
protect areas free from avocado seed weevils, as set out in point 4, first paragraph, and points 4.4.4, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.5.3, 4.8.1, 4.8.2, 4.8.3 and 4.8.4 of Mexican Official Standard 
NOM-066-FITO-2002 establishing specifications for the phytosanitary management and movement 
of avocados, and point 4.4(c), (d) and (f) of Mexi can Official Standard NOM-069-FITO-1995 on the 
establishment and recognition of pest-free areas. 
4.  The recognition of the municipalities of Tetela del Volcán and Yecapixtla in the State of Morelos 
as an area free from the large avocado seed weevil ( Heilipus lauri ), the small avocado seed weevil 
(Conotrachelus aguacatae  and C. perseae ) and the avocado seed moth ( Stenoma catenifer ) will 
contribute to the objective of improving the phytosanitary status of avocado-growing areas 
in Mexico and strengthen the domestic and international avocado trade. 
5.  The Decision is available in Spanish at http://www.dof.gob.mx  and 
http://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.p hp?codigo=5351010&fecha=03/07/2014 , or from the 
National Enquiry Point ( normasomc@economia.gob.mx ). G/SPS/GEN/1349 
- 2 - 
  6.  Lastly, Mexico wishes to state that this communication is being made for the purposes 
of transparency, without prejudice to the country's rights and obligations under the SPS Agreement.  
__________