G/SPS/GEN/1299  
23 January 2014  
(14-0344)  Page: 1/2  
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 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 municipality of Tepic, Na yarit, 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 7 January 2014. 
2.  The notified Decision declares the municipality of Tepic, Nayarit, 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 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 municipality of Tepic, Nayarit, 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 
applies the phytosanitary measures to maintain and protect 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 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 municipality of Tepic, Nayarit, 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 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=5329096&fecha=07/01/2014 , or from the 
National Enquiry Point ( normasomc@economia.gob.mx ). G/SPS/GEN/1299 
- 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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