G/SPS/GEN/1408  
12 May 2015  
(15-2489)  Page: 1/1  
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 8 May 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 of the publication in the Mexican Official Journal on 2 April 2015 of the Decision declaring the municipality 
of Leonardo Bravo and the "Puente de la Dama" agro ecological zone in the municipality of General 
Heliodoro Castillo, State of Guerrero, to be areas 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 ). 
2.  The notified Decision declares the municipality of Leonardo Bravo and the "Puente de la Dama" 
agroecological zone in the municipality of General Heliodoro Castillo, State of Guerrero, to be areas 
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 set out in Mexican Official Standards NOM-066-FITO-2002 (Specifications for the phytosanitary management and movement of avocados) and 
NOM-069-FITO-1995 (Establishment and recognition of pest-free areas), phytosanitary measures 
were taken to determine the absence of avocado s eed weevils, on the basis of phytosanitary status 
assessments carried out by the delegation of th e Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural 
Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) in the State of Guerrero and the Directorate-General 
of Plant Health. 
3.  The Decision was published in order to declare that the above-mentioned municipalities comply 
with the phytosanitary provisions set forth in Mexican Official Standards NOM-069-FITO-1995 
(Establishment and recognition of pest-free areas)  and NOM-066-FITO-2002 (Specifications for the 
phytosanitary management and movement of avocados). The measures to be taken to maintain and protect areas free from avocado seed weevils are set out in points 4.4(c), (d) and (f) 
and 4.5.1 of NOM-069-FITO-1995 and in point 4, fi rst 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 NOM-066-FITO-2002 and are intended to contribute to the objective of improving the phytosanitary status of avocado-growing areas in Mexico and to 
strengthen domestic and international avocado trade. 
4.  The Decision is available in Spanish at http://www.dof.gob.mx  and 
http://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.p hp?codigo=5387663&fecha=02/04/2015  and from the 
National Enquiry Point ( normasomc@economia.gob.mx ). 
5.  Lastly, Mexico wishes to state that this communication is being made for the purposes of 
transparency, without prejudice to Mexico's rights and obligations under the SPS Agreement. 
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