G/SPS/GEN/1378  
20 January 2015  
(15-0353)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: Spanish  
 
  DECLARATION OF AREAS FREE FROM BOLL WEEVIL 
(ANTHONOMUS GRANDIS)  
COMMUNICATION FROM MEXICO 
The following communication, dated 16 January 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Mexico. 
 
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  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 State of Baja Cali fornia; the agro-ecological region of the 
Mennonite colonies of Las Bombas, Los Junc os and El Pueblito in the Municipality of 
Aldama, the agro-ecological region of the Menn onite colonies of Los Cienes, El Palomino 
and La Perla in the Municipality of Camargo;  the agro-ecological region of the Mennonite 
colony of Palmeras in the municipality of Ju limes; the municipalities of Coyame del Sotol 
and Ojinaga in the State of Chihuahua; the  municipality of Sierra Mojada in the 
State of Coahuila, and the municipalities of Al tar, Caborca, General Plutarco Elías Calles, 
Pitiquito and San Luis Río Colorado in th e State of Sonora, to be areas free from 
boll weevil ( Anthonomus grandis ), was published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación  
(Mexican Official Journal) on 15 December 2014. 
2.  The notified Decision declares the State of Chihua hua, the municipality of Sierra Mojada in the 
State of Coahuila and the municipalities of Álamos, Bácum, Benito Juárez, Cajeme, Etchojoa, 
Huatabampo, Navojoa and San Ignacio Río Muerto in the State of Sonora, to be areas free from 
boll weevil ( Anthonomus grandis ). It furthermore states that, in accordance with the procedures 
indicated in Mexican Official Standard NOM-026-FITO-1995 establishing cotton plant pest controls 
and Mexican Official Standard NOM-069-FITO-1995 on the establishment and recognition of 
pest-free areas, phytosanitary measures were introduced to determine the absence of pink bollworm ( Pectinophora gossypiella ), on the basis of phytosanitary status assessments carried out 
by the Directorate-General of Plant Health of the National Agriculture and Food Health, Safety and 
Quality Service of Mexico. 
3.  The Decision was published in order to ensure that the State of Baja California; 
the agro-ecological region of the Mennonite colonies of Las Bombas, Los Juncos and El Pueblito in 
the Municipality of Aldama, the agro-ecological re gion of the Mennonite colonies of Los Cienes, 
El Palomino and La Perla in the municipality of Camargo; the agro-ecological region of the 
Mennonite colony of Palmeras in the municipality of Jumiles; the municipalities of Coyame del 
Sotol and Ojinaga in the State of Chihuahua; the  municipality of Sierra Mojada in the 
State of Coahuila, and the municipalities of Altar, Caborca, General Plutarco Elías Calles, Pitiquito and San Luis Río Colorado in the State of Sonora, remain areas free from boll weevil 
(Anthonomus grandis ). The phytosanitary provisions established in Articles 19 to 22 of the Federal 
Plant Health Law and in point 4.4(c), (d) and (f) of Mexican Official Standard NOM-069-FITO-1995 
on the establishment and recognition of pest-free areas will be observed. 
4.  The Decision is available in Spanish at http://www.dof.gob.mx , 
http://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.p hp?codigo=5375913&fecha=15/12/2014 , and from the 
National Enquiry Point ( normasomc@economia.gob.mx ). G/SPS/GEN/1378 
- 2 - 
  5.  Lastly, Mexico wishes to state that this communication is being made for purposes 
of transparency, without prejudice to Mexico's rights and obligations under the SPS Agreement. 
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