The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published an amendment to the entry requirements to import fresh blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) shipped from Chile to the United States. The measure is immediate, and follows an operational assessment of APHIS. It adds Savannah, Georgia, as an approved port of entry for the import of fresh blueberries from Chile, as long as the requirements and phytosanitary safeguards are met.
According to a statement from APHIS, all other requirements in the January 27, 2014 (DA-2014-07) version of the Federal Order remain unchanged.
In order to avoid the introduction of European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana or EGVM) in the United States, APHIS requires that shipments of blueberries from Regions VI, VII and VIII destined for the United States are fumigated with methyl bromide in the point of origin or at the first port of arrival of the USA in compliance with the 7 US Code of Federal Regulations Part 305. In addition, shipments from Chilean regions other than VI, VII and VIII, which do not require fumigation, are subject to a greater pre-authorization inspection through the APHIS Pre-Shipment Program at the port of export.
The Chilean blueberries can be fumigated upon arrival at the following sea ports of entry:
1. Long Beach and Los Angeles, California;
2. Wilmington, Delaware;
3. Miami and Port Everglades, Florida;
4. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (to include ports in the New York City metropolitan area);
5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
6. Pharr-McAllen, Texas; and
7. Savannah, Georgia.
Fumigation schedules may be at a rate of 2 pounds (at 60° or 70° F), according to the methyl bromide label, or at a rate of 4 pounds (at 40° F). APHIS has determined that these additional requirements are necessary to prevent the entry of EGVM into the United States because Chile has had a high population of EGVM in recent seasons and an unexpected detection of moth in fresh blueberries.
Source: SimFRUIT according to APHIS CP
