After 24 years of work and negotiation between Chile and the U.S., the launch of the Systems Approach for Chilean table grapes was confirmed in July 2024. Methyl bromide fumigation was replaced with a series of mitigation measures at origin, improving the quality and condition of the fruit in the destination market. It allowed grapes from Chile to become more competitive in the face of growing competition from other southern hemisphere countries that ship grapes to the U.S. market.
However, lawsuits were presented and on September 30, 2025 federal judge Amir H. Ali reversed the measure for Chilean table grapes to enter the U.S. under the Systems Approach due to mitigation measures applied at origin.
APHIS has now posted an update, which indicates that in compliance with the Federal Court order and pending further legal action, it will no longer issue import permits for grapes produced under a systems approach. In other words, it will only issue permits for grapes treated with fumigation either in Chile or upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry.
Source: APHIS
