APHIS Allows Imports of Pomegranates from Chile, Subject to Systems Approach
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued a final rule, effective May 17, 2012, amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the import into the continental U.S. of pomegranates from Chile, subject to a systems approach.
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Under the systems approach, the fruit would have to be grown in a place of production that is registered with the national plant protection organization of Chile and certified as having a low prevalence of Brevipalpus chilensis. The fruit would have to undergo pre-harvest sampling at the registered production site. Following post-harvest processing, the fruit would have to be inspected in Chile at an approved inspection site. Each consignment of fruit would have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the fruit had been found free of Brevipalpus chilensis based on field and packinghouse inspections.
(See ITT’s Online Archives 11031538 for summary of APHIS’ proposed rule to allow the importation of pomegrantes and figs from Chile. APHIS is only finalizing its amendments concerning pomegranates Chile at this time, and delaying the final rule on figs from Chile to further consider issued raised by commenters.)