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 commo dities that could be treated with methyl bromide treatment T1 01-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 met hyl 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 a pproved for grapes and citrus only. Chile has requested that we allow their figs, ba by kiwis and pomegranate fruits

to be also treated with this treatment for Brevipalpus chilensis which would meet our entry requirements and enable export of thes e commodities to the U. S. With Brevipalpus chilensis being an external pest and based on the histor ical performance of me thyl bromide treated grapes and citrus imported into this countr y, we are now recomme nding approval of this treatment to treat Chilean figs, ba by 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 exot ic 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 base d 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. Currentl y, 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 commoditi es with the methyl bromide treatment T101-i-2-1 to mitigate risks from the above m ite. Pest risk assessments (PRAs) were therefore conducted to determine the pest ri sks associated with the three commodities (USDA, 2009b,c). The PRA identified two pest s 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 pe st 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/p lants/manuals/ports /treatment.shtml ) and has been used for decades for treating Chilean grapes and citrus prior to th eir 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 treatm ent has been very effective all other times. Based on an evaluation and to minimize further pest risks, an adjustment to the treatment was3 made in 2006 whereby treatment duration was prolonged to two and ha lf hours if conducted

in a chamber or to three hours if conducted unde r tarpaulin. Over 1.6 million tons of methyl bromide treated grapes have been imported from Chile and no intercep tion of the mite has been recorded since then (USDA, 2009d).

International Standard:

The International Standard fo r Phytosanitary Measures # 28 (ISPM 2006) which is expected to be finalized in near future, in para graph 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 th at 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 sugge sts that the revised treatment T101-i-2-1 is effective against this mite.



### Evaluation:

Although no large scale study has be en conducted to confirm the efficacy of methyl bromide treatment T101-i-2-1 in figs, baby kiwis or pom egranates, 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 s uggests that the trea tment 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 Phytos anitary Measures #28 (draft): Phytosanitary Treatments for Regulated Pests. Internat ional 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/in dex.cfm?CFID=1920548&CFTOKEN=edb035adc 1061b5b-35AF9496-ECEA-0066-15396A5A8D1A1321&ACTION=pubHome4 USDA 2009b. Pest Risk Assessment fo r 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 St ates A Qualitative, Pathway-initiated Risk Assessment USDA APHIS PPQ, May 16, 2008, 23pp.

USDA 2009d. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Pest Intercep tion Database. Last Accessed September. 2009.