The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorised the fumigation of Chilean blueberry exports at the port of entry into the US. From today, shipments will no longer have to be treated before shipping.
Luis Mayol of the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture said the measure allowed berries to be fumigated under the same conditions as table grape imports, avoiding potential damage to fruit quality.
The move was prompted by the detection of European Grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana, in Chile’s VI and VII regions late last year. Following the discovery, US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Aphis) announced that all shipments to the US would have to undergo methyl bromide fumigation treatment at origin at field temperature.
The new measures were agreed following discussions between the Chilean ambassador to the US, Felipe Bulnes, with the USDA.
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