G/SPS/GEN/1297  
23 January 2014  
(14-0342)  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 21 January 2014,  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 municipalities of Concepción de Buenos Aires, La Manzanilla de la Paz, Mazamitla, Tapalpa and Zapotiltic, Jalisco, 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 ), was published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación  
(Mexican Official Journal) on 7 January 2014. 
2.  The notified Decision declares the municipalities of Concepción de Buenos Aires, La Manzanilla 
de la Paz, Mazamitla, Tapalpa and Zapotiltic, Jalisco, 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 indicated 
in Mexican Official Standard NOM-066-FITO-2002 establishing specifications for the phytosanitary management and movement of avocados, and Me xican Official Standard NOM-069-FITO-1995 
on the establishment and recognition of pest-free areas, following the introduction 
of phytosanitary measures 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 Concepción 
de Buenos Aires, La Manzanilla de la Paz, Mazamitla, Tapalpa and Zapotiltic, Jalisco, 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 es tablishing specifications for the phytosanitary 
management and movement of avocados, and po int 4.4(c), (d) and (f) of Mexican Official 
Standard NOM-069-FITO-1995 on the establis hment and recognition of pest-free areas. 
4.  The recognition of the municipalities of Concep ción de Buenos Aires, La Manzanilla de la Paz, 
Mazamitla, Tapalpa and Zapotiltic, Jalisco, as 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 ) 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 .php?codigo=5329094&fecha=07/01/2014 , or from the 
National Enquiry Point ( normasomc@economia.gob.mx ). G/SPS/GEN/1297 
- 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.  
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