G/SPS/GEN/1326  
15 April 2014  
(14-2356)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: Spanish  
 
  QUESTIONS POSED BY THE DELEGA TION OF SENEGAL CONCERNING 
AREAS FREE FROM MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY 
STATEMENT BY GUATEMALA 
The following communication, received on 11 April 2014, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Guatemala. 
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  1.  In 1995, the FAO defined "pest-free area" as "an area in which a specific pest does not occur 
as demonstrated by scientific evidence and in which, where appropriate, this condition is being 
officially maintained". 
2.  In Guatemala, the areas of Los Huistas, Salcajá and Ocós-Champerico were declared free from 
the Mediterranean fruit fly by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), pursuant 
to Ministerial Decisions Nos. 01-2011, 84-2011 and 29-2013, respectively. 
3.  Compliance with the requirements of the FAO de finition of pest-free area in respect of the 
Mediterranean fruit fly is scientifically demonstrated through the trapping and sampling detection 
system used by the MOSCAMED (Medfly) Programme in these areas, whose pest-free status is maintained by applying officially regulated sanitary measures in accordance with the NAPPO and IPPC international standards. 
4.  Guatemala's MOSCAMED Programme for the eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly applies 
an integrated pest management strategy using cutting-edge technology. The main component of this strategy is the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), which is applied on an area-wide basis using 
a modern plant that produces sterile males of the Mediterranean fruit fly (the largest of its kind 
in the world). The plant is certified with ISO 9001:2008 quality standards and has an installed 
production capacity of 3 billion TSL strain pupae per week. 
5.  International recognition of its work has led Guatemala's MOSCAMED Programme to become 
a training centre for professionals involved in Mediterranean fruit fly control programmes worldwide; it has provided more than 170 professionals and technicians from 35 countries with training in integrated Mediterranean  fruit fly management techniques. 
6.  The MOSCAMED Programme applies the following strategy to control and eradicate 
the Mediterranean fruit fly: The process begins wi th information and public relations, followed by 
plague detection, which involves sampling and/or trapping. Data analysis then establishes 
the presence or absence of the pest. The process continues with pest control, using ground 
and aerial spraying, bait stations, physical control, the Sterile Insect Technique, and biological control. This is followed by the suppression an d eradication stage, and then by the protection 
of working areas, which are subject to legal supervision. Then comes the establishment 
and maintenance of pest-free areas, and the process ends with the production of fruit that is safe 
for local consumption and export. 
7.  Further details concerning this Programme are available on the following website: 
http://www.moscamed- guatemala.org.gt . G/SPS/GEN/1326 
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  8.  We hope that the above information answers Se negal's questions and stand ready to provide 
any additional information that may be required on a bilateral basis. 
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