Chilean table grape industry prepares to implement Table Grape Phytosanitary Inspection Sites under Systems Approach for exports to the US

Chile is currently the main exporter of table grapes in the world, its main destination market being the United States, with a 49% share of the total exported to the world in the 2021-2022 season, followed by the Far East with 22% and Europe with The 17%. Currently, Chilean grapes that are sent to the US must be fumigated in accordance with the import protocol between the two countries, which affects the quality and competitiveness of the fruit. However, USDA-APHIS recently published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would allow importing Chilean table grapes under Systems Approach to the US market, replacing fumigation. A measure that could be implemented by producers/exporters from Atacama, Coquimbo and part of Valparaíso, due to phytosanitary requirements. In this regard, it should be noted that the US body reported last week the extension of the comment period on said rule to January 17, 2023, the date on which the industry expects to be fully prepared to export ...