WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/MEX/194
6 June 2003
(03-2935)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  MEXICO
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries
and Food (SAGARPA)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Prickly pears ( Opuntia ) and the products and by-products thereof
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
Australia, South Africa, Haiti, United States of America, Argentina, Virgin Islands, Puerto
Rico, Antigua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montse rrat, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Cuba,
Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Mauritius, Hawaii, Spanish Islands, Cayman Islands, Saint
Helena, Ascension Island, Zimbabwe, Namibia and all other countries where the cactus
moth ( Cactoblastis cactorum Berg)  is detected.
5. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Emergency Mexican Official
Standard NOM-EM-040-FITO-2003 Implementing the System to Prevent the Intr oduction,
Spread and Establishment of the Cactus Moth ( Cactoblastis cactorum Berg) in Mexican
Territory  (10 pages, in Spanish).
6. Description of content:  This Emergency Mexican Official Standard establishes a sampling,
inspection and monitoring system for the timel y detection of the possi ble introduction, spread
and establishment of the cactus moth ( Cactoblastis cactorum Berg) in Mexican territory and,
where appropriate, the application of phytosanitary measures to control and eradicate this
pest.
This Emergency Standard applies to pest host plants, plant products and by-products
of the genus Opuntia , with the exception of those which have been processed and do not
present a phytosanitary risk to Mexico.
It also applies to the following:
(a) Production areas of Opuntia  plants hosting C. cactorum , including commercial
orchards, backyard orchards in urban areas, national parks, ecological reserves and
woodland areas.
(b) Opuntia fruit and vegetable packing, processing, brokerage, treatment and selection
facilities and  quarantine units.
(c) motor freight vehicles in general, private motor vehicles and passenger transport
vehicles.
(d) storage and marketing centres.
(e) luggage, bags and packages containing Opuntia fruit or vegetables at internal
checkpoints, railway terminals, passenger tran sport facilities, sea ports, airports and
frontiers.G/SPS/N/MEX/194
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6. Description of content:  (cont'd)
(f) seaport, airport and frontier installations.
(g) recreation parks, tourist areas and main international transit routes.
7. Objective and rationale:  [    ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [  X ] plant protection,
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  X ] protect territory from
other damage from pests
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reasons for urgent action:  In order to prevent the
introduction of plant pests into Mexico and subject the import and export of plants, plantproducts and by-products and the causal agents of phytosanitary problems to phytosanitarycontrols, phytosanitary measures must urgently be established to avoid the risk of the cactusmoth ( Cactoblastis cactorum Berg) being introduced into Mexico. This insect is considered a
major cactus quarantine pest and has affected various regions of the world, causing severedamage to plant populations of the genus Opuntia.
A further reason for issuing this emergency measure is that the introduction of this
insect would cause considerable economic harm to the "nopal" (cactus stems or pads) and"tuna" (cactus fruit) industry - prickly pears bein g used in Mexico both for animal fodder and
for human consumption. Other risks include possible environmental damage which would
endanger the species of Opuntia  found in Mexico which are susceptible to this pest.
The main way in which the cactus moth could be introduced in and spread to Mexico
is by the importation from affected countries of  plants, plant products and by-products of the
genus Opuntia  as well as the insect's own natural dissemination mechanisms.
The above circumstances call for the issue of this Emergency Standard, pursuant to
Article 48 of the Law on Metrology and Standardization.
9. International standard, guideline or recommendation:
[    ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [    ] Office International des Epizooties,
[    ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] NoneIf an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
10. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Diario Oficial de la
Federación  (Official Journal) of 20 May 2003  (available in Spanish).
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  This Standard will enter
into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal and will be valid for
six months as of that date.
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ X ] National notification
authority, [    ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:G/SPS/N/MEX/194
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13. Texts available from:  [  X ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Web site:  www.economia.gob.mx/?P=85  (Standards catalogue)
Enquiry Point:
E-mail: cidgn@economia.gob.mx
Directorate-General of Standards:
Tel.: (52+55) 5729-9300, Ext. 4156
Fax: (52+55) 5520-9715