G/SPS/GEN/1301  
7 February 2014  
(14-0740)  Page: 1/1  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: Spanish  
 
  DECLARATION OF AREA 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 4 February 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 municipality of Tochimil co, Puebla, 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 27 January 2014. 
2.  The notified Decision declares the municipality of Tochimilco, Puebla, 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 re cognition 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 municipality of Tochimilco, Puebla, 
remains 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 that the  phytosanitary measures to maintain and protec t areas free from these pests, 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 Mexican Official Standard NOM-069-FITO-1995 on the establishment and recognition of pest-free areas, are applied. 
4.  The recognition of the municipality of Tochimilco, Puebla, 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 avoc ado-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=5330829&fecha=27/01/2014 , or from the 
National Enquiry Point ( normasomc@economia.gob.mx ). 
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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