Pest risk assessment for Chilean table grape imports published by USDA APHIS

A pest risk assessment of a long-awaited systems approach for Chilean table grape imports has been published by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. This might considerably improve Chile's s market access. The proposal is out for public comment until March 29, 2022.

If approved, Chilean table grape exporters will no longer be compelled to apply methyl bromide fumigation on fruit delivered to the United States, which has been a stumbling block for the sector.

APHIS said in the report: "While Chile already has market access for grapes, this PRA was requested by PPQ to determine the current pests that would be associated with the pathway as candidates for mitigation in support of developing a systems approach that does not include methyl bromide as a treatment."

"In preparing this PRA, we did not consider any washing or pest mitigations during the pathway. The pest risk ratings depend on the application of all conditions of the pathway as described in this document. Grape clusters produced under different conditions were not evaluated and may pose a different pest risk."

According to Chilean fruit exporters' association ASOEX, Chile has been working to remove the fumigation requirement for almost two decades.