United States Department of Agriculture 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Plant Protection and Quarantine 

 

 

Amend Treatment Manual to add Chilean Figs, Baby Kiwis and 

Pomegranates to the list of commodities that could be treated 

with methyl bromide treatment T101-i-2-1 for external feeders 

including Brevipalpus chilensis 

Treatment Evaluation Document 

Date: October 8, 2009 

Treatment: T101-i-2-1: Methyl bromide treatment of baby kiwi, fig and pomegranate 

fruits from Chile 

Target Pests:

Scientific name: Common name(s): 

Various External Feeders 

Brevipalpus chilensis Baker Chilean false spider mite 

Commodities:

Scientific name: Common name(s): 

1. Ficus carica L. 1. Figs 

2. Punica granatum L. 

3. Actinidia arguta 

2. Pomegranates 

3. Baby kiwi. 

Country(s) of Origin: Chile

________________________________________________________________________ 

Objective: 

APHIS currently requires fumigation with methyl bromide (MB) treatment T101-i-2-1 (1.5 - 

4 lbs of methyl bromide per 1,000 cubic feet or 24 - 64g per 1 cubic meter for up to 3 hours 

at temperatures ranging from to 4.4° C to 21.1° C and above) to allow entry of grapes and 

certain citrus fruit from Chile into the United States. The treatment is applied to mitigate 

risks from external feeders such as Brevipalpus chilensis associated with these commodities. 
2

Although the treatment is for external feeders, yet it is currently approved for grapes and 

citrus only. Chile has requested that we allow their figs, baby kiwis and pomegranate fruits 

to be also treated with this treatment for Brevipalpus chilensis which would meet our entry 

requirements and enable export of these commodities to the U. S. With Brevipalpus chilensis 

being an external pest and based on the historical performance of methyl bromide treated 

grapes and citrus imported into this country, we are now recommending approval of this 

treatment to treat Chilean figs, baby kiwis and pomegranates as well. 

Overview:

Historical Perspective: 

APHIS regulations 7 CFR 319.56 allow importation of fruits and vegetables from other 

countries into the United States if they meet certain entry requirements. The requirements 

are to prevent the introduction or spread of exotic plant pests in this country. Thus certain 

fruits and vegetables must first be treated with one of the approved treatments before they are 

allowed in. The treatment requirement is based on the kind of pests involved, how they are 

associated with the commodity (internal or external) and how the commodity is grown and 

handled in the country of origin. Currently, to prevent the introduction of Chilean false 

spider mite Brevipalpus chilensis, grapes and certain citrus fruit from Chile must be treated 

with methyl bromide T101-i-2-1 before they could be allowed in (USDA, 2009a). 

Chile has now requested for United States market access for three additional commodities 

namely Baby kiwis (Actinidia arguta), Figs (Ficus carica), and Pomegranates (Punica 

granatum) and offered to treat the three commodities with the methyl bromide treatment 

T101-i-2-1 to mitigate risks from the above mite. Pest risk assessments (PRAs) were 

therefore conducted to determine the pest risks associated with the three commodities 

(USDA, 2009b,c). The PRA identified two pests of concern associated with figs and 

pomegranate, a Mediterranean fruit fly Ceretitis capitata or Medfly and the Chilean false 

spider mite Brevipalpus chilensis (USDA, 2009b), and only one pest, the Chilean false spider 

mite Brevipalpus chilensis, with baby kiwis (USDA, 2009c). Since Chile is now considered 

by APHIS as a Medfly free country, the spider mite is the only pest of concern that requires a 

treatment. 

Efficacy Studies: 

Treatment T101-i-2-1 is an APHIS approved treatment for external feeders including 

Brevipalpus chilensis

(http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/treatment.shtml) and has 

been used for decades for treating Chilean grapes and citrus prior to their importation into the 

United States. The treatment requires addition of up to 4 pounds of methyl bromide gas per 

1,000 cubic feet depending upon the temperature (40-80 degrees F) and exposing fruit for a 

minimum of two hours. Except for 2006 when some interceptions of the mite were made in 

methyl bromide treated Chilean grapes, the treatment has been very effective all other times. 

Based on an evaluation and to minimize further pest risks, an adjustment to the treatment was 
3

made in 2006 whereby treatment duration was prolonged to two and half hours if conducted 

in a chamber or to three hours if conducted under tarpaulin. Over 1.6 million tons of methyl 

bromide treated grapes have been imported from Chile and no interception of the mite has 

been recorded since then (USDA, 2009d). 

International Standard: 

The International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures # 28 (ISPM 2006) which is expected 

to be finalized in near future, in paragraph 2 under REQUIREMENTS, states that, “The level 

of efficacy of the treatment should be stated (qualified or expressed statistically). Where 

statistical data is unavailable, other evidence that supports the efficacy (i.e. historical and/or 

practical information/experience) should be provided.” Historical evidence of successful 

imports of grapes and citrus from Chile suggests that the revised treatment T101-i-2-1 is 

effective against this mite. 

Evaluation: 

Although no large scale study has been conducted to confirm the efficacy of methyl bromide 

treatment T101-i-2-1 in figs, baby kiwis or pomegranates, an overwhelming evidence based 

on historical performance (lack of interception of the mite in MB treated grapes and citrus 

imported over the years from Chile) clearly suggests that the treatment T101-2-1-1 is 

effective against external feeders including Brevipalpus chilensis.

Decision: 

Approve addition of the three commodities, figs, baby kiwis and pomegranates, to the list of 

commodities that could be treated by T101-i-2-1 external feeders including Brevipalpus 

chilensis to allow import into the United States.

Agency Contact: 

Name: Inder Paul S Gadh, Ph.D. 

Title: Senior Risk manager - Treatments 

Telephone Number: 301-734-8758 

E-mail address: paul.gadh@aphis.usda.gov 

References: 

ISPM 2006. International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures #28 (draft): Phytosanitary 

Treatments for Regulated Pests. International Plant Protection Convention, Food and 

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome. May 2006 9pp. 

USDA 2009a. USDA APHIS PPQ Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR) 

https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual/index.cfm?CFID=1920548&CFTOKEN=edb035adc

1061b5b-35AF9496-ECEA-0066-15396A5A8D1A1321&ACTION=pubHome 
4

USDA 2009b. Pest Risk Assessment for Fresh Fruits of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) 

and Fig (Ficus carica) from Chile into the Continental Unites States. A Pathway 

Initiated Plant Pest Risk Assessment. USDA APHIS PPQ, Riverdale, MD 64pp. 

USDA 2009c. Pest Risk Assessment for Fresh Fruits of Baby Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) from 

Chile Imported into the Continental United States A Qualitative, Pathway-initiated Risk 

Assessment USDA APHIS PPQ, May 16, 2008, 23pp. 

USDA 2009d. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Pest Interception Database. Last 

Accessed September. 2009.