USDA proposes rules for Chilean sweet oranges, grapefruit

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has proposed regulations for importing sweet oranges and grapefruit from Chile.

Based on the evidence in a recent pest risk analysis, we believe these articles can be safely imported from all provinces of Chile, provided certain conditions are met, the agency said. 

U.S. importers of Chilean sweet oranges and grapefruit would need to first obtain a permit from the agency's Plant Protection and Quarantine program. Cold treatment and methyl bromide fumigation are acceptable for pest control involving the two fruits, along with post-harvest inspections. These conditions would be the same as those which currently apply to clementines, mandarins, and tangerines from Chile, the USDA said.

According to the USDA, Chile's biggest citrus export markets are Japan, Spain, the Netherlands and Canada. These markets accounted for more than 28,000 short tons of oranges and 4,300 short tons of grapefruit from Chile in 2006.

If the USDA regulations are implemented, the Chilean government expects annual exports of sweet oranges and grapefruit to the United States to total about 110,000 boxes (93,500 boxes of oranges and 16,500 boxes of grapefruit). The boxes are 17 kilograms for sweet oranges and 15 kilograms for grapefruit, yielding about 2,000 short tons overall.

This volume of imports from Chile would comprise a relatively minimal amount compared to total U.S. imports of about 100,000 short tons and domestic production of more than 2.6 million short tons, the USDA said. The expected imports from Chile would be equivalent to 2 percent of U.S. imports of oranges and grapefruit in 2006 and less than 0.01 percent of U.S. production.

The USDA will accept comments about the proposed rules through Oct. 27. For more information, access the Aug. 28 Federal Register notice on line atedocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-19871.htm. 

Source: American Shipper