APHIS amends rules for fresh blueberries imported from Chile

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the entry requirements for the importation of fresh blueberry fruit from Chile into the United States. After an operational evaluation, APHIS) adds Savannah, Georgia, as an approved port of arrival through which fresh blueberry consignments from Chile may be imported while meeting phytosanitary safeguards and requirements. All other requirements in the January 27, 2014 (DA-2014-07), version of the Federal Order remain unchanged.

To prevent the introduction of European grapevine moth into the United States, APHIS requires blueberry shipments from regions VI, VII, and VIII destined to the United States to be fumigated with methyl bromide at the point of origin or at the first U.S. port of arrival under 7 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 305. In addition, consignments from regions in Chile other than VI, VII, and VIII, that do not require fumigation, are subject to an increased rate of preclearance inspection through the APHIS preclearance program at the port of export.

Chilean blueberries are allowed to be fumigated upon arrival at the following maritime ports of entry:

• Long Beach and Los Angeles, California
• Wilmington, Delaware
• Miami and Port Everglades, Florida
• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (to include ports in the New York City metropolitan area)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Pharr-McAllen, Texas
• Savannah, Georgia

Fumigation schedules are either the 2lb rate (at 60° or 70° F), in accordance with the methyl bromide label, or the 4lb rate (at 40° F). Due to the high EGVM population in Chile during recent seasons and the unexpected detection of the moth on fresh blueberries, APHIS has determined that these additional requirements are necessary to prevent the entry of EGVM into the United States.

For additional information regarding this Federal Order, call Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist Tony Román at 301-851-2242 or email Juan.A.Roman@aphis.usda.gov