The USDA will extend the comment period on a pest risk assessment and a commodity import evaluation document detailing proposed new ways to treat Chilean grapes exported to the U.S.
The public will have an additional 30 business days to provide comments on the documents in response to requests to extend the comment period beyond Dec. 16, according to a news release. The USDA will now consider all comments received by Jan. 17, 2023.
Currently, table grapes from Chile must be fumigated with methyl bromide to mitigate for the Chilean false red mite, Brevipalpus chilensis, and the European Grapevine Moth, Lobesia botrana, the release said. APHIS is proposing that table grapes from areas in which the moth is either absent or at very low prevalence could be imported into the U.S. under a systems approach or irradiation.
The systems approach would provide an alternative to the current import requirement of mandatory treatment with methyl bromide fumigation, according to the release.
The USDA prepared a pest risk assessment and a commodity import evaluation document. The commodity import evaluation identifies the phytosanitary measures that could be applied to table grapes from new areas of Chile without increasing the risk of introducing pests, the release said.
In a comment submitted to the USDA in mid-October, the California Table Grape Commission requested an extension in the comment period, making the case that more time was needed to evaluate the USDA documents.
“The posting of this notification comes at a time when the majority of California table grape growers are harvesting and shipping the bulk of their fruit,” the commission said. “And, at a time when the attention and resources of the commission are critically needed to support growers by focusing on creating demand for their fruit in the U.S. and exports markets around the world. The requested extension would provide growers and the commission time to review and respond to the proposed rule after completion of the season.”
To view the documents and comments, visit regulations.gov.
