EPPO Platform
on PRAs

Importation of blueberry fruit (Vaccinium angustifolium, V. ashei, V. corymbosum, and V. virgatum) from Chile into the United States for consumption

USDA 13

Description

The purpose of this report is to assess the pest risks associated with importing fresh fruit of blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton, V. ashei J. M. Reade, V. corymbosum L., and V. virgatum L. (Ericaceae), from Chile into the United States for consumption. 


The pest risk assessment was developed in response to a modification of existing market access request for the importation of fresh blueberry submitted by Chile. We did not consider any production, harvest, post-harvest, shipping, or storage conditions during the development of this assessment. As such, blueberry fruit produced under different conditions were not evaluated and may pose a different pest risk. 


We used scientific literature, port-of-entry pest interception data, and information from the government of Chile to develop a list of pests with quarantine significance for the United States. These are pests that occur in Chile on any host and are associated with the commodity plant species anywhere in the world. Then we determined the likelihood of introduction for each pest that has a reasonable likelihood of being associated with the pathway. 


The following organisms are candidates for pest risk management because they have met the threshold for unacceptable consequences of introduction and can follow the commodity import pathway:


- Ceratitis capitata, introduction likelihood high

- Pseudococcus meridionalis, introduction likelihood medium 

- Lobesia botrana, introduction likelihood medium 

- Frankliniella australis, introduction likelihood medium

Organisms

  • Ceratitis capitata
  • Frankliniella australis
  • Lobesia botrana

Hosts

  • Vaccinium angustifolium
  • Vaccinium ashei
  • Vaccinium corymbosum
  • Vaccinium virgatum

Files

Type File Size
Pest Risk Analysis Download 445,55kB

PRA Area

  • United States of America