WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/440
28 October 2003
(03-5727)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
REGIONALIZATION
INFORMATION FOR THE RECOGNITION OF FRUIT FLY-FREE AREAS
Communication by Mexico
I. BACKGROUND
1. Certain species of fruit fly are considered the ma in fruit-tree pest due to their destructiveness,
which has led to the imposition of phytosanitary restrictions on the marketing of the fruit that hosts
the pest, for domestic consumption and for export.
2. Accordingly, the Mexican Government has taken various steps to control fruit flies.  The
establishment of the applicable legal framework began in May 1934 with "Internal Quarantine Order
No. 4 against fruit flies in the North-West Defence Area", to be followed by other legislation such as
the "Decree declaring the prevention and combating of the pests known as fruit flies of the genera
Anastrepha, Rhagoletis  and Toxotrypana  to be in the public interest", promulgated on
13 December 1985.  This latter decree authorized the Ministry of Agriculture to coordinate the efforts
of the Federal Government, the State governments and the organized producers in order
comprehensively to combat the pest.
3. Later, starting in 1992, the control of fruit flies of economic and quarantine importance was
strengthened and extended through Cooperation Agreements between the Federal Government, the
State governments and the Auxiliary Plant Health Bodi es;  at the same time, in Metapa, Chiapas, the
Ministry set up a production plant for sterile flies and parasitoids in order to apply highly selectiveand ecological methods of pest eradication in those regions of the country where the ecological
conditions allowed and to reduce population densities in others.
4. The establishment of phytosanitary requirements and specifications for the operation of the
National Anti-Fruit Fly Campaign, with the publication of Official Mexican Standard
NOM-023-FITO-1995, led to the standardization and strengthening of the phytosanitary measuresagainst fruit flies, making it possible to reduce the population levels until they were of little economic
significance and, where appropriate, recognize free orchards, low-prevalence areas and pest-free
areas.
II. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
5. The regulatory framework for the recognition of fruit fly-free areas consists of the following:
(A)
RESOLUTIONS DECLARING FREE AREAS
(i) On 26 February 1998, the "Resolution declaring all the territories of the
municipalities of the States of  Baja California Sur, Chihuahua and Sonora free ofG/SPS/GEN/440
Page 2
fruit flies" was published in the Official Journal ( Diario Oficial de la Federación de
los Estados Unidos Mexicanos );
(ii) on 9 April 2001, the "Resolution declarin g the municipalities of Ahome, Choix,
El Fuerte, Guasave and Sinaloa de Leyva in the State of Sinaloa free of fruit flies"
was published in the Official Journal;  and
(iii) on 25 June 2003, the United States Department of Agriculture published in the
Federal Register  (7 CFR sections 300 and 319), its recognition of the following
Mexican municipalities as being free of Ceratitis capitata, Anastrepha ludens, A.
serpentina, A. obliqua and A. fraterculus : Ahome, Choix, El Fuerte, Guasave and
Sinaloa de Leyva in the State of Sinaloa, while confirming the status of Comundú, La
Paz, Loreto, Los Cabos and Mulejé in the State of Baja California Sur;  Bachivia,
Casas Grandes, Cuahutemoc, Guerrero, Na miquipa and Nuevo Casas Grandes in the
State of Chihuahua;  Altar, Atil, Bacum, Benito Juárez, Caborca, Cajeme, Carbo,
Empalme, Etchojoa, Guaymas, Hermosillo, Huatabampo, Navojoa, Pitiquito, Plutarco
Elias Calles, Puerto Peñasco, San Luis Río Colorado, San Miguel and San Ignacio
Río Muerto in the State of Sonora.
(B) OFFICIAL MEXICAN STANDARDS
5. As part of its regulatory framework, Mexico ha s established an Official Mexican Standard for
the determination, establishment and recognition of pest-free areas and three others governing
measures to prevent, combat, control, suppress and eradicate fruit flies, as well as one on the
movement of fruit fly host fruit.  These Official Mexican Standards are:
(i) NOM-069-FITO-1995,  "For the Establishment and Recognition of Pest-Free Areas",
which lays down the requirements for the determination, establishment and
recognition of pest-free areas, issued in order that plants and plant products and by-
products produced in free areas can be moved without the need to apply additional
phytosanitary measures;
(ii) NOM-023-FITO-1995,  "Establishing the National Anti-Fruit Fly Campaign", the
purpose of which is to establish the requirements and phytosanitary specifications for
the operation of the National Anti-Fruit Fly Campaign in the registered production
areas, with a view to recognizing orchards temporarily free of fruit flies of the
species:  Anastrepha ludens  (Loew) , A. obliqua  (Macq.), A. serpentina  (Wied.) and A.
striata  (Schiner), areas of low prevalence and free areas, as well as to lay down
guidelines for the protection of low-prevalence and pest-free areas;
(iii) NOM-075-FITO-1997,  "Establishing the Requirements and Phytosanitary
Specifications for the Movement of Fruit Fly Host Fruit", whose main purpose is to
establish the requirements and phytosanitary specifications for the movement of fresh
fruit fly host fruit in order to prevent the sp read of the pest to free and low-prevalence
areas;  and
(iv) NOM-076-FITO-1999,  "National Emergency and Prevention System Against Exotic
Fruit Fly", establishing a preventive system for the purpose of preventing the
introduction and establishment on Mexican territory of exotic fruit fly of the genera
Ceratitis, Dacus  and Bactrocera  and some species of Anastrepha spp  and Rhagoletis
spp;  and establishing procedures for activating the national emergency system.G/SPS/GEN/440
Page 3
(C) TECHNICAL APPENDICES ISSUED IN SUPPORT OF THESE OFFICIAL MEXICAN STANDARDS
6. Various Technical Appendices have been issued in support of the Official Mexican Standards,
the following being the most relevant:
(i) Technical Appendix for implementing the emergency plan in areas free of fruit
fly of the genus Anastrepha.  This lays down the procedures for the application of
the emergency plan in areas free of fruit fly of the species Anastrepha ludens  (Loew) ,
A. obliqua  (Macq.), A. serpentina  (Wied.) and A. striata  (Schiner), for the purpose of
preserving their phytosanitary status.  It sets out the requirements relating to
organization, participants and responsibilities, identification of suspicious specimens
detected in the free area, notification of the initiation of the emergency plan,
phytosanitary activities to be carried out and the eradication certificate;  and
(ii) Technical Appendix on trapping quality control for fruit fly of the genus
Anastrepha . This lays down, for officials and the private sector (Auxiliary Plant
Health Bodies and Verification Units approved by SAGARPA as part of the National
Anti-Fruit Fly Campaign), the supervision procedures which the former must apply
and the latter follow, where appropriate, and hence facilitates the supervision ofactivities at orchard and geographical region level, as well as those covered by the
phytosanitary specifications for establishing orchards temporarily free of fruit flies,
areas of low prevalence and free areas.
(D)
INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL STANDARDS (IMPORTING COUNTRY )
(i) ISPM No. 4. Requirements for the establishment of pest-free areas.  Issued by the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), it describes the
requirements for the establishment and use of pest-free areas (PFAs) as a risk
management option for phytosanitary certification of plants and plant products and
other regulated articles exported from the PFA or to support the scientific justification
for phytosanitary measures taken by an importing country for protection of anendangered PFA;
(ii) ISPM No. 10. Requirements for the establishment of pest-free places of
production and pest-free production sites.   Issued by the FAO, it describes the
requirements for the establishment and use of pest-free places of production as a risk
management option, for meeting phytosanitary requirements for the import of plants,
plant products and other regulated articles;  and
(iii) RSPM No. 1. Pest-free areas.  Issued by the North American Plant Protection
Organization, for the purpose of providing a basis for the phytosanitary certification
and post-harvest movement of plants, plant products and other regulated articles from
an area without the need for the application of additional phytosanitary measures.
III. PROCEDURE FOR THE RECOGNITION OF FREE AREAS
6. On the basis of the regulatory framework, a technical file for the recognition of the free area
is compiled and a form for verifying the basic data in accordance with paragraph 4.13.1 of Official
Mexican Standard NOM-023-FITO-1995 is completed.  This includes general data on the region, fruit
fly trapping and sterile fly release, registration of orchards, area and location, host fruit currently
grown in the area, anti-fruit fly campaign activit ies in the last three years and climatological
information.G/SPS/GEN/440
Page 4
IV. PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES FOR MAINTAINING FREE AREAS (INTRA-
ENTITY INSPECTION)
7. The phytosanitary measures designed to maintain and protect a fruit fly-free area are
established within an annual work programme, approved by SAGARPA and based on the regulatoryframework described above.   The phytosanitary measures applied to maintain free areas are as
follows:
(A)
SURVEILLANCE
8. A trapping network is maintained in urban and suburban areas at densities of one trap per
10 hectares;  in commercial and fringe areas located less than 5 km from urban and suburban areas
there is one trap every 25 hectares, and in commercial and fringe areas more than 5 km from urban
and suburban areas one trap every 50 hectares, with weekly checks, throughout the year.  Whereappropriate, the trapping densities established in inter-agency agreements with importing countries are
applied.
9. SAGARPA, through the General Plant Health Directorate, establishes a trap quality control
programme, in accordance with the provisions of the Technical Appendix on trap quality control forfruit flies of the genus Anastrepha .
10. The preventive trap network for exotic fruit flie s is maintained in the entities, the trap quality
control programme also being applied.
(B)
PHYTOSANITARY CONTROLS
11. The quarantine system protects the free areas through the application of phytosanitary
procedures and requirements to shipments of fruit-fly host fruit, for the purpose of controlling its
movement into free areas.  In addition, these areas are protected by quarantine control points (Internal
Check Points) set up on land routes, where the phytosanitary certificates issued are verified and,where appropriate, the plants and their products and by-products are checked and inspected and
quarantine treatment applied.  The Internal Check Points are manned by trained technical personnel
and have at their disposal fumigation chambers, samples and effective treatments for reducing the risk
of the pest being introduced into free areas.
12. At the same time, in supply centres, markets and stores located in free areas, the phytosanitary
documentation is again checked and the fruit inspected.  These activities serve to control the quality ofquarantine application on entry into the free areas.
(C)
APPLICATION OF THE EMERGENCY PLAN
13. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development has an emergency plan for
eradicating as quickly as possible any fruit fly outbreaks in free areas.  Prior to the detection of thepest by means of the surveillance system, this plan made it possible to maintain the free areas of Baja
California Sur, Chihuahua, Sonora and the five muni cipalities of North Sinaloa, which demonstrated
its operational feasibility.
14. The technical appendix for the free area emergency plan, which forms part of
NOM-023-FITO-1995, is available for plan implementation purposes.G/SPS/GEN/440
Page 5
V. MEASURES WHICH MADE IT POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH THE MEXICAN
STATE OF SONORA AS A FRUIT FLY-FREE AREA
(A) GENERAL
15. Sonora lies in the far North-West of Mexico between longitudes 108° 27’ and 115° 03’ West
and latitudes 26° 14’ and 32° 29’ North.
16. In the North, it shares a 588 km long border with the United States;  in the East, it adjoins the
State of Chihuahua, in the South-East the State of Si naloa, and in the West the Gulf of California, on
which it has a 816 km long shoreline.
17. A large part of  Sonora consists of the Sonoran Desert, which includes most of the coastal
plain, with dry prevailing winds from the North Pole.  These characteristics determine the rainfall and
the very wide daily variations of  temperature, throughout the year.
18. The State is divided into three physiographical provinces.  The first of these, from East to
West, is located in the extreme east of the State and occupies 10 per cent of its territory;  it is
represented by a strip of the mountain system of the Sierra Madre Occidental which runs along the
border with the State of Chihuahua, from just short of the United States frontier to the border with the
State of Sinaloa.  The vegetation of this region is needle-leaf forest.  In the high part of the Sierra it is
characterized by an upper growth of conifers 12 to 20 m tall of the genus Pinus  and an undergrowth of
tussock grasses.  At lower altitudes a transitional forest of Quercus, Pinus  and arbutus ( Arbustus
arizonica) , etc. prevails.
19. The second physiographical province, called the "Sierras and Parallel Valleys" region,
occupies 40 per cent of the area of the State, fo rms a strip running north-south through the middle of
the State from the international frontier with the Unit ed States to the border with the State of  Sinaloa,
and is represented by the mountain chains that fo rm the Sierras of Cananea, La Púrica, Nacozari,
Aconchi, Sahuaripa and Moctezuma.  These mountain chains are separated by broad parallel valleys
through which the rivers Bavispe, Nacozari, Moct ezuma, Sonora, San Miguel, Yaqui and Mayo run
before flowing out into the Gulf of California.
20. In this region, the vegetation is thorn scrub consisting of shrubs and low trees 3 to 5 m tall
and, at ground level, sparse grasses.
21. The third region, the coastal strip along the Gulf of California, occupies 50 per cent of the
total area of the State, borders on the North with the United States, on the South with the State of
Sinaloa, on the East with the Sierras and Parallel Valleys region and on the West with the Sea of
Cortés, and forms part of the coast of the Gulf of California.  The characteristic flora consist of shrubs
up to 2 m tall and cacti up to 6 m tall, with one predominating over the other in varying degrees.
22. The cultivated area lies in the coastal strip of the Gulf of California, which has a desert
ecology.  It depends on the availability of water sources and arable soil and is therefore good only for
irrigated farming in compact areas such as San Luis Río Colorado, Sonoyta, Caborca, Costa de
Hermosillo, Guaymas-Empalme, Valle del Yaqui and Valle del Mayo.
23. Approximately 48 per cent of the irrigated area is reserved for growing fruit, most
importantly, grapes, sweet oranges and peaches.G/SPS/GEN/440
Page 6
(B) BACKGROUND AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
24. From 1984 to 1987, negotiations were conducted with the United States with a view to
obtaining the recognition of the free areas.  On  8 January 1987, the US Department of Agriculture
(USDA) published in the Federal Register a change in  the Act enabling the United States to apply this
concept in any quarantined country.
25. The State of Sonora has had a fruit fly-free area since 30 March 1988, when it was recognized
by the United States.  This area covers 12 of its municipalities.
26. Since 1992, the Anti-Fruit Fly Campaign has been operating under a tripartite agreement
between the federal and state governments and the producers on the State Plant Health Committee
(CESV).  By mutual consent, the three parties agree economic resources for its implementation.  The
Federation and the State are responsible for regulating, supervising, supporting and advising the
CESV, which in its turn is responsible for running the Campaign, subject to the authorization of anannual programme, covering all the activities to be carried out, by the federal and state governments.
27. As a result of progress with the implementation of the Anti-Fruit Fly Campaign, in 1994 the
pest was eradicated in 55 municipalities, which were added to the 12 already internationally
recognized as fruit fly-free areas.  Accordingly, on 26 July 1995 the Mexican Government granted
recognition to 69 of the State's 70 municipalities, with publication of the resolution in the Official
Journal.
28. Later, on 26 February 1998 the recognition of all the State's municipalities as free of fruit fly
was published in the Official Journal.  This status was recognized by the United States on
20 January 1999.
(C)
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
29. In the State's 72 municipalities, a preventive trapping network for the detection of any fruit
flies of the genera Anastrepha, Ceratitis  and Bactrocera  has been set up .  Trapping is carried out
throughout the year in urban and in fringe and commercial areas.
30. Quarantine control is based on various pieces of legislation subsidiary to the Federal Plant
Health Law, published on 5 January 1994, which regulates the movement of fruit fly host fruit, as laiddown in the official standards.
31. On this basis and for the purpose of protecting the fruit fly-free area, Internal Check Points
(ICPs) have been established at three points of entry into the State, namely: Estación Don, on the
border with Sinaloa;  Agua Prieta and Yécora, located in the municipalities of the same name
bordering on Chihuahua .  At these points, quarantine controls involving the inspection of every
private vehicle and public and federal means of transport are applied for the purpose of intercepting
fruit in luggage, car boots and packages;  in addition, the phytosanitary documentation for agriculturalgoods is checked, partial quarantine fruit is sampled, seizures are made and, where necessary,
commercial shipments are fumigated.
32. In 1996, state quarantine controls were strengthened with the establishment of ICPs at
Álamos to control the movement of products from the Sierra Sur region, together with in-transit
inspection of the railway on the Sufragio, Sinaloa-Estación Don, Sonora line, at the airports of Ciudadde Hermosillo, Guaymas and Ciudad Obregón and at the seaport of Guaymas .  Moreover, the State
has Agricultural Health Inspection Offices (OISAs) at the frontier points of San Luis Río Colorado,
Sonoyta, Nogales, Naco and Agua Prieta.G/SPS/GEN/440
Page 7
(D) FACTORS FAVOURING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FRUIT FLY -FREE AREA IN THE MEXICAN
STATE OF SONORA
33. On the North Sonora borders on the US State of Arizona;  on the West it adjoins the Gulf of
California, on the East the free area of  Chihuahua State, and on the South the free area of Sinaloa
State and a narrow strip between the Sea of Cortés and the Western Sierra Madre .  The State's climate
is very dry and the temperatures are extreme;  these conditions determine the State's desert-type
vegetation.
34. The vegetation presents an obstacle to the spread of any fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha
which may appear in Mexico, these flies having a typical tropical distribution pattern.
35. Sonora's native plant species are not considered to be fruit fly hosts .  The vegetation is
predominantly of the scrub and cactus type or pine woods at higher altitudes .  The presence of fruit fly
hosts such as citrus fruit trees and white sapota depends on the availability of irrigation .  Thus, these
host plants are to be found distributed among the farming valleys in the form of "ecological islands",
and in inhabited areas, where there are isolated sweet orange, guava and white sapota trees.
36. The main highway is the Los Mochis – Hermosillo motorway and there is only one railway
line, which enters the State at "Estación Don" .  These unique circumstances favour the application of
quarantine controls for maintaining "Free Area" status.
VI. MEASURES WHICH MADE IT POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH THE MEXICAN
STATE OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR AS A FRUIT FLY-FREE AREA
(A) GENERAL
37. The State of Baja California Sur is situated on  the Peninsula of Baja California, in the North-
West of the Mexican Republic.  It lies between 22° 52’ and 28° North and 109° 24’ and 115° 04’West.  It is bordered on the North by the State of Baja California, on the East by the Gulf of
California, and on the South and West by the Pacific Ocean.
38. Some 85 per cent of the area of the State is flat, with few hills.  The other 15 per cent includes
a mountain chain almost parallel to the coast of the Gulf of California, covered by a series of forests.In the North of the State lies the Sierra de Santa Lucía, in the centre the Sierra de La Giganta, in the
South-East the Sierra de La Laguna and the Sierra de La Trinidad, and in the South the Sierra de San
Lázaro.
39. The territory of Baja California Sur is 82.8 per cent covered with vegetation, the remaining
17.2 per cent having no plant cover at all.  In the South, low thorn woods and pine and ilex forests
occupy  6.9 per cent of the area of the State.  Moreover, in the North and centre there are areas with anarid zone ecosystem that account for 58.6 per cent of the State's territory.  Finally, 6.5 per cent of the
territory is covered by halophytic vegetation and 10.8 per cent is used for farming, livestock raising or
human habitation.
(B)
BACKGROUND AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
40. In 1992, following the signature of a Cooperation Agreement between the State Government,
the State Plant Health Committee (CESVBCS), which represents the producers, and the Ministry of
Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development (SAGAR), activities intended to show that there were
no fruit flies in Baja California Sur were initiated.G/SPS/GEN/440
Page 8
41. On 26 July 1995, on the basis of action taken in the field and the continued corroboration of
the absence of fruit flies through the operation of a trapping network, the Federal Government
published in the Official Journal a resolution declaring the municipalities of Mulegé, Comundú and
Loreto in the State of Baja California Sur (among others) free of fruit flies.
42. Accordingly, in July 1995 the Mexican Governme nt asked the United States to recognize this
area as fruit-fly free, but not until 20 January 1999, four years later, did the United States finally grant
recognition of this status and publish it in the Federal Register .
43. On 26 February 1998, the Mexican Government published in the Official Journal a
"Resolution declaring the municipalities of La Paz and Los Cabos (among others) free of fruit flies".
The request for recognition was addressed to the United States Government on 26 February 1998, andrecognition was obtained on 25 June 2003.
(C)
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
44. Since 1976 a State trapping network has existed as a preventive measure against exotic fruit
flies of the species Ceratitis capitata, Bactrocera dorsalis  and B. cucurbitae.  The aim of trapping is
to detect in good time the possible presence of these species of fruit fly in the State.  There is also a
programme for the release of sterile Anastrepha ludens  flies.
45. The Baja California Sur fruit fly-free area is protected from possible reinfestation by means of
internal check points, one in Guerrero Negro, in th e North of the State and very near the border with
Baja California, and others at the seaport of Pichilingue and the airports of La Paz and San José del
Cabo.
(D) FACTORS FAVOURING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FRUIT FLY -FREE AREA IN THE MEXICAN
STATE OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR
46. Baja California Sur has a dry and very extreme climate, with temperatures ranging from an
annual minimum of -2.5°C to an annual maximu m of 46.3°C and an average annual rainfall of
150 mm.
47. The prevailing environmental conditions make it difficult for fruit flies to become established
and, moreover, most of the State is a natural desert.  These characteristics also determine the type of
vegetation, predominantly scrub and cactus.  The plant species typical of Baja California Sur are notconsidered to be hosts to fruit flies.
48. Moreover, the distribution of introduced hosts such as citrus trees and mango is restricted to
specific areas resembling "ecological islands", as well as by the availability of irrigation. Isolated
sweet orange, mango, guava and white sapota trees are to be found in populated areas.
49. The State of Baja California Sur exists in natural geographical isolation.  It is a peninsula
surrounded by the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean.  This makes fruit fly migration very
difficult and facilitates the application of quarantine controls.G/SPS/GEN/440
Page 9
VII. MEASURES WHICH MADE IT POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH THE MEXICAN
STATE OF CHIHUAHUA AS A FRUIT FLY-FREE AREA
(A) GENERAL
50. The State of Chihuahua lies in the northern Mexican Republic between 25°34’ and 31°47’
North and 103°11’ and 109°07’ West;  it has borders with  the United States to the North, the Mexican
States of Durango and Sinaloa to the South, the State of Sonora to the West, and the State of Coahuila
to the East.
51. The State has mountains that rise for the most part to heights of 1,000 or 2,500 m above sea
level.  There are three natural regions: "Altiplano", "Western Sierra Madre" and "Desert Zone".  The
Altiplano (high plateau) is located in the centre of the State at altitudes that vary between 1,000 and
1,500 m above sea level.  This region is bordered on the West and South-West by the Western SierraMadre and on the East by the Desert Zone.  Its climate is generally classified as semi-arid with
maximum temperatures of 41°C, minimum temper atures of 4°C and an annual average of 10°C.
Annual rainfall averages 400 mm.  The native vegetation of the region consists of xerophilous plants
and shrubs of various sizes.
52. The Western Sierra Madre flanks almost the entire far west of the State along the border with
Sonora, from North Sinaloa.  The climate of this  region is temperate sub-humid to semi-cold sub-
humid, with an annual rainfall of more than 700 mm.  The native vegetation prevailing in the high
part of the Sierra is needle-leaf forest, with Pinus, Cupressus, Juglans and Pseudotsuga , together with
tussock grasses at lower altitudes.
53. The Desert Zone extends across the North and East of the State, from the frontier with the
United States all along the border with the State of Coahuila.  The climate is very dry semi-hot and
very dry temperate, with maximum temperatures  of 44°C, minimum temperatures of –18°C and an
annual average of 15°C.  Annual rainfall averages 300 mm.  The native plant species representative ofthis region are: cactus ( Pachycereus pringlei ), Creole palm ( Yuca macrocarpa ), lechuguilla ( Agave
bovicornuta ), barrel cactus ( Ferocactus spp ), creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata ), prickly chaparral
(Condalia ovobata ) and  peyote ( Astrophyton asterias ).
54. Most of the fruit-growing area lies in the foothills of the Western Sierra Madre and to a lesser
extent in the Altiplano, at altitudes of from 1500 to 2000 m above sea level, with annual average
maximum temperatures of 20°C in November and 25°C in April and annual average minimumtemperatures of 3°C and 8°C in the same months, respectively.  Apple and peach orchards produce
cash crops, while apricots, quinces, plums and pears are grown on a semi-commercial or family basis.
(B)
BACKGROUND AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
55. In 1991, the State's fruitgrowers, organized in a State Plant Health Committee (CESV), took
steps to monitor fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha .  That same year, with the establishment of the
Anti-Fruit Fly Campaign by the Mexican Federal Government, the action was intensified and the
producers received advice on how to achieve their objectives.
56. On the basis of the results obtained by the Campaign in Chihuahua, on 26 July 1995 the
Mexican Government published in the Official Journal a "Resolution declaring the entire State a fruit
fly-free area".
57. On 15 January 1996, the United States Depart ment of Agriculture (USDA) was asked to
recognize the State of Chihuahua as free of fruit fly ( Anastrepha ludens, A. obliqua, A. serpentina, A.G/SPS/GEN/440
Page 10
fraterculus and Cerstitis capitata ).  Recognition was granted by publication in the United States
Federal Register  on 20 January 1999.
(C) PREVENTIVE MEASURES
58. Since 1991, the State's commercial fruit tree area s have been carrying out seasonal (spring-
summer) trapping, and since 1992 there has been winter trapping in the urban areas they include.  In
1993, trapping was extended to two urban areas located outside the zones included in the commercial
production areas: Chihuahua and Cd. Juárez.  Later, in 1994, the remaining urban and fringe areas
(semi-commercial and/or family orchards) were added.
59. Since 1993 there has been systematic sampling of host fruit in the State's markets and supply
centres, and in 1994 internal check points were established in Cd. Jiménez and Villamatamoros.
(D) FACTORS FAVOURING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FRUIT FLY -FREE AREA IN THE MEXICAN
STATE OF CHIHUAHUA
60. Thanks to the climatic and geographical conditions, the probability of fruit fly populations
establishing themselves in the State of Chihuahua is very low.  The native vegetation does not act as
host to the pest, the only likely hosts being deciduous fruit trees grown commercially or semi-
commercially and isolated fruit trees growing in back gardens.
VIII.  BENEFITS FOR MEXICO FROM THE RECOGNITION OF FRUIT FLY-FREE
AREAS
61. The benefits obtained from the recognition of fruit fly-free areas are reflected in exports of the
products that host the pest, such as apples, apricots, grapefruit, oranges, peaches, plums, persimmons,pomegranates and mandarins from the free areas.  Moreover, recognition has made it possible, in the
Mexican States of Sonora and Baja California Sur, for the origin inspection programmes of the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-APHIS) to be transferred to the General Plant
Health Directorate of the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries
and Food.G/SPS/GEN/440
Page 11DATES
STATE MUNICIPALITY PUBLICATION
IN OJREQUEST
TO UNITED
STATESDISPATCH OF
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATIONTECHNICAL
INSPECTION
APHIS-USDARECOGNITION BY
UNITED STATESNOTES
MULEGÉ
COMUNDÚ AND
LORETO26 JULY 199525 JULY 1995
19 FEB. 199623 JUNE 1997SEPTEMBER
199720 JANUARY 1999
BAJA
CALIFORNIA SURLA PAZ AND LOS
CABOS26 FEBRUARY 9 FEB. 1999 --- --- 25  JUNE 2003ON 21 AUGUST 2000, THE PROPOSED
REGULATION FOR  RECOGNIZING LA
PAZ AND LOS CABOS AS FREE AREAS
WAS PUBLISHED, BUT NO FURTHERACTION WAS TAKEN DUE TO THE
DETECTION OF OUTBREAKS OF THE
PEST IN LOS CABOS.IN MARCH 2002 THE RECOGNITION
PROCEDURE WAS RECOMMENCED.
CHIHUAHUA ENTIRE STATE26 JULY 1995
26 FEB. 199815 JANUARY
1996---JULY 1994
APRIL 199620 JANUARY 1999
ALTAR, ATIL,
CABORCA,
CARBO,
EMPALME,
GUAYMAS,
HERMOSILLO,
PITIQUITO,
PLUTARCO ELÍAS
CALLES, PUERTO
PEÑASCO, SAN
LUIS RÍO
COLORADO AND
SAN MIGUEL DE
HORCASITAS26 JULY 1995FROM 1984 TO 1987, NEGOTIATIONS WERE
CONDUCTED TO OBTAIN USDA RECOGNITION OF
FREE AREAS.  ON 8 JANUARY 1987, USDA
PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER THE
CHANGE IN THE ACT ENABLING THE UNITED
STATES TO APPLY THIS CONCEPT IN ANY
QUARANTINED COUNTRY.30 MARCH 1988
SONORA
BACUM, BENITO
JUÁREZ, CAJEME,
ETCHOJOA,
HUATABAMPO
AND NAVOJOA26 FEB. 199810 OCT.
19952 AUGUST 1996
8 NOV. 1996
16 APRIL 1997
16 APRIL 1998--- 20 JANUARY 1999
SINALOAAHOME, CHOIX,
EL FUERTE,
GUASAVE AND
SINALOA DE
LEYVA17 APRIL 20016 NOV.
20014 DEC. 2001 --- 25 JUNE 2003
__________