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 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 municipalities of Tlazazalca, Huiramba and Quiroga, Michoacán de Ocampo, 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 27 January 2014.

2.  The notified Decision declares the municipalities of Tlazazalca, Huiramba and Quiroga, Michoacán de Ocampo, 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 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 municipalities of Tlazazalca, Huiramba and Quiroga, Michoacán de Ocampo, 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 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.

4.  The recognition of the municipalities of Tlazazalca, Huiramba and Quiroga, Michoacán de Ocampo, 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=5330830&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.