WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/MEX/145
14 July 1999
(99-2908)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  MEXICO
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of the Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries
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).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Whales
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft Mexican Official Standard
PROY-NOM-131-ECOL-1998, Establishing Guidelines and Specifications for Activities
Involved in the Observation of Whales, with a View to their Protection and theConservation of Their Habitat (65 pages)
5. Description of content:  The purpose of this Mexican Official Standard is to establish the
guidelines and specifications that must be followed in carrying out the activities involved in
the observation of whales, so as to ensure their protection and conservation and that of their
natural environment.  Its observance is compul sory for all those undertaking such activities.
6. Objective and rationale: [    ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [   ] plant protection, [   ]
protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  X ] protect territory from other
damage from pests
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Diario Oficial de la
Federación  (Official Journal), 18 June 1999 (in Spanish)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined
11. Final date for comments:  17 August 1999
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:
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [    ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: