Regulatory process nears end for importing methyl-bromide-free Chilean table grapes into U.S.
The U.S. will soon have access to Chilean methyl-bromide-free table grapes in counter-season.
After two decades of negotiations, Chile has reached the last mile in the authorization process of the systems approach for table grape exports to the North American market.
This is currently in a period of public comment on the Federal Register that was extended and now will finish on Jan. 17, 2023. After the public consultation, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reviews the comments and publishes a final version in the same official U.S. gazette.
The U.S. is the most important destination market for Chilean table grapes. Thirty percent of the volume of this product came to the U.S. in the 2021-22 season, and Chile has become the main supplier for the North American market.
This agreement will allow importers in the U.S. to receive table grapes without methyl bromide fumigation from low-pest-prevalence areas in regions of Chile — such as Atacama, Coquimbo and Valparaíso — that meet the demanding requirements established.
In those eligible areas, methyl bromide fumigation will be replaced with different actions in origin that the systems approach considers, such as registration of growers who demonstrate their compliance, traps in orchards, permanent monitoring and U.S.-Chile joint inspection in origin, among other actions to ensure the export of a safe product.
This agreement shouldn’t impact the volumes of Chilean grapes exported to the U.S., but it will have a positive impact on the quality of the product that will be available in the market — and, most importantly, an environmentally friendly option.
Besides the positive effect on the U.S. supply chain and consumers, there’s another factor to consider since Chile and the U.S. are in counter-season: Local American growers will be able to start their table grape season with a stable demand throughout the year.
We are looking forward to successfully finalizing this achievement for Chile, the U.S. and our environment.
Andrés Rodríguez is the agricultural attaché of Chile in the U.S.
(Editor's Note: This was updated Dec. 14, 2022, to reflect an extension to the public comment period.)
