Chilean exporters are disappointed that Brazil has put a temporary block on Chilean fruit imports following the discovery of a “mite” amongst the imported table grape.

The “Brevipalpus chilensis” mite has already caused problems in the US market this year. It does not exist in Brazil and it is suggested it has the potential “to devastate 30 per cent of Brazil’s grapevines”.

The mite affects hydration of the vines’ buds, according to Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture. Chilean exporters however believe the drastic decision is a “tit for tat” attitude which can be linked to Chile’s banning of Brazilian beef because of the foot and mouth outbreak in that country.

Brazil claims the action is in accordance with a scientific, technological and technical agreement signed by both countries to protect agricultural interests. However, Franciso Bahamonde head of Chile’s agriculture and livestock sanitary services, countered: “Finding the mite is not in line with Brazilian officials’ reaction. This is a common mite in table grape which does not exist in other fruit species. Therefore we are inclined to believe there has been a misunderstanding.”

Luis Alberto Mouliat of Chilean exporter Copefrut labeled the incident a “tariffs” dispute, following possible trade pressures from inside both countries: “They want to sell beef and we want to send fruit. It’s a long time since we had a similar problem with Brazil,” he said.

The president of Chile’s Exporters Association, Ronald Brown, added. “The existence and discovery of this mite in shipments is something normal, but is rarely made public”, he said. Brown added he would not speculate about a possible “retaliation” but “it’s very odd that the Brazilian government should have made such a formal announcement. It usually does not happen”.

Chilean fruit shipments to Brazil for the season 2004/05 totalled 30,300 tonnes, equivalent to 1.5 per cent of all Chilean fruit exports, and 8.8 per cent of the Latin American market.

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