Self-declaration of country freedom from African swine fever by Mexico

COMMUNICATION FROM MEXICO

The following communication, received on 13 June 2024, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Mexico.

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1.  Pursuant to Article 6 of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, which concerns regional conditions, including pest- or disease-free areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence, and in order to comply with the principle of transparency, we hereby notify the "self-declaration of country freedom from African swine fever by Mexico", which was sent to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on 21 March 2024.

2.  Mexico requested that WOAH publish an updated version of its self-declaration of freedom from African swine fever (ASF); the previous version of the self-declaration was published on 19 July 2018[1] and Mexico's status as a country historically free from the disease has remained active ever since.

3.  The self-declaration of freedom from infection with the ASF virus concerns all species of Sus scrofa.

4.  The self-declaration complies with Chapter 15.1, Article 15.1.3 "General criteria for the determination of the ASF status of a country, zone or compartment" and Article 15.1.4 "Country or zone free from ASF", paragraph 1 "Historical freedom". A country may be considered free from ASF without pathogen-specific surveillance if it complies with the provisions in Chapter 1.4, Article 1.4.6, paragraph 2(b), of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial Code).

5.  In Mexico, veterinary services fall within the remit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), acting through the National Agriculture and Food Health, Safety and Quality Service (SENASICA). Within SENASICA, the Directorate-General of Animal Health (DGSA) is the national veterinary authority responsible for regulating animal health. It has protocols for the detection and control of the various exotic diseases and pests that can affect the country's terrestrial and aquatic animal species. These protocols are reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure that they remain effective, thus keeping technical procedures optimal and ensuring that the best scientific practices are applied when addressing animal health threats.

6.  Mexico has not recorded any cases or evidence of ASF since it joined WOAH, and is therefore self-declaring country freedom. Exotic disease surveillance activities nevertheless include passive epidemiological surveillance conducted through the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (SIVE), in compliance with Chapter 1.4, Article 1.4.6, paragraph 2(b), of the Terrestrial Code.

7.  SENASICA's National Exotic and Emerging Disease Information System (SINEXE) makes it possible to record, analyse and follow epidemiological field investigations involving exotic, emerging or re-emerging diseases. The table below details the notifications received by SINEXE between 2018 and 2023 concerning clinically suspected cases of swine diseases such as ASF. In such cases, an on‑site visit is conducted to obtain samples from animals showing clinical signs:

8.  In Mexico, the importation of live pigs, susceptible species, pig semen and embryos, vehicles or containers transporting machinery or equipment used for such animals, and pig products and by‑products is prohibited if such items come from or have transited through countries or regions where outbreaks or positive cases of ASF have been reported to WOAH.

9.  Furthermore, animal health requirements have been established in accordance with the recommendations set out in the WOAH Terrestrial Code and following a risk analysis carried out by SENASICA for trading partner countries in which the absence of ASF has been demonstrated.

10.  Mexico fulfils the requirements of Article 1.4.6, paragraph 1(b), of the Terrestrial Code:

-_        The presence of ASF in Mexico has never been confirmed;

-_        ASF is a notifiable disease throughout national territory;

-_        No type of vaccination against ASF has been carried out;

-_        The official veterinary services have current knowledge of, and authority over, the country's swine populations;

-_        The country has no feral pig population in which ASF can take hold;

-_        Mexico has the capacity to diagnose the disease;

-_        The country organizes courses and training sessions for the parties potentially involved in the detection and/or declaration of ASF;

-_        The official veterinary services conduct epidemiological investigations into suspected cases;

-_        Surveillance for ASF is conducted in accordance with Articles 15.1.28-15.1.31 and Article 15.1.33 of the Terrestrial Code.

11.  Mexico hereby informs WTO Members of this updated self-declaration of country freedom from ASF.

12.  This communication is being submitted for purposes of transparency and in order to provide Members with further information on the status of the presence of ASF in Mexico.

13.  The document is available at: https://www.woah.org/es/que-ofrecemos/autodeclaracion-de-estatus-sanitario/.

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