APHIS Revises Requirements for Fresh Plum Fruit from Chile into the United States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is advising the public of a decision to revise the requirements relative to the importation into the United States of plums (Prunus domestica) from Chile. A commodity import evaluation document (CIED) was previously published with a public comment period ending on January 3, 2022.

Based on the findings of the CIED, APHIS determined applying one or more designated phytosanitary measures will successfully manage the risks of introducing or spreading plant pests via a systems approach for European grapevine moth (EGVM), as well as an option for fumigation with methyl bromide. This action will not alter existing requirements for the importation of plums from Chile that do not target EGVM, and irradiation will remain an option to mitigate EGVM. These revised requirements are effective January 25, 2022.

The risk mitigation measures chosen in the systems approach for plums from Chile include registered production sites and packing houses, trapping for EGVM adults, surveys for EGVM immature stages, exports without treatment only from pest free places of production in areas of low pest prevalence, packing house inspection and phytosanitary certification. Only commercially produced plums under an operational workplan will be allowed importation. Plums produced in Chile from production sites that do not meet the requirements for pest freedom will still require an APHIS approved quarantine treatment such as fumigation or irradiation.