United States Department of Agriculture

Addition of a new treatment T101-i-2-2 to the Plant Protection and Quarantine 

Treatment Manual to treat figs for external feeders including Brevipalpus chilensis

Treatment Evaluation Document

Date: December 29, 2014

Treatments, Pests, Commodities and Countries

New Treatment/ 

Revision/Deletion 

Treatment 

Type

Target Pests Commodity 

Applicable

Countries 

of origin

New treatment Methyl 

bromide 

fumigation

External feeders 

including Chilean 

false red mite 

(Brevipalpus 

chilensis Baker) 

Figs (Ficus carica L) All

Objective: To provide supporting information and justification for addition of a new 

phytosanitary treatment, T101-i-2-2, to the PPQ Treatment Manual. The change is to 

ensure that figs from countries where B. chilensis is known to occur and associated with 

figs will be treated with an effective dose of methyl bromide.

Overview: 

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 to enter the United States. The treatment requirement 

is based on the kind of pests involved, how they are associated with the commodity

(internally or externally), and how the commodity is grown and handled in the country of 

origin. To prevent the introduction of Chilean false red mite, Brevipalpus chilensis, figs 

from Chile must be treated with methyl bromide (MB) treatment T101-i-2-1 before they

can be allowed into the United States (USDA, 2011). The treatment as originally 

approved required the use of 1.5 lb. – 4.0 lb. of methyl bromide gas for 2 hours at 

temperatures of 40oF or above 

(http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/treatment.pd

f). In 2006, APHIS determined that this treatment was ineffective to mitigate risk from 

the mite on grapes therefore as an emergency measure the treatment was amended to 

require a longer exposure time of up to 3 hours under tarpaulin or 2.5 hours in chamber 

(Wood, 2007). On May 12, 2010, APHIS published a final notice in Federal Register 
2

that approved use of this revised treatment to treat not only grapes but also pomegranates 

and baby kiwis from Chile to meet U.S. entry requirements (USDA, 2010). 

Subsequently, on April 4, 2011, APHIS published another final Notice in Federal 

Register that approved use of this revised treatment to also treat figs from Chile to meet 

U.S. entry requirements (USDA, 2011). 

Figure 1: Treatment T 101-i-2-1 as currently provided in the PPQ Treatment 

Manual

T101-i-2-1 Grape (Vitis spp.), Baby kiwi (Actinidia arguta), Pomegranate (Punica 

granatum L.) and Fig (Ficus carica L) (as revised in 2006, 2010 & 2011)

Pest: Brevipalpus chilensis (Chilean false red mite)

Treatment: T101-i-2-1 MB at NAP—tarpaulin or chamber1

Subsequent to publication of the April 2011 Notice, APHIS became aware of a concern 

that figs may absorb more MB gas than other commodities (e.g., grapes, baby kiwis, or 

pomegranates). Chilean and USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists 

collaborated on research to determine whether the higher than normal sorption of gas by

figs affected the efficacy of treatment T101-i-2-1. Based on their research, they

determined that the concentration of MB gas varied in the air versus the commodity

suggesting a negative impact on treatment efficacy over time. Further studies by ARS 

determined that a higher dose or exposure time is needed than what is currently provided 

by the revised treatment T101-i-2-1 to achieve 100% mortality of the Chilean false red 

mites on figs (Jimenez and Walse, 2013). Based on the ARS research, the Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service’s Center for Plant Health Science and Technology

(CPHST) made the following recommendation for figs for chamber fumigation: increase 

the exposure time to 3 hours in conjunction with increasing the dose rate by half pound 

over the current requirements of treatment T101-i-2-1. 

 

Temperature Dosage rate

(lb./1,000 ft3)

Duration

(hours)

80oF or above 1.5 3

70-79oF 2 3

60-69oF 2.5 3

50-59oF 3 3

40-49oF 4 3

1

If the treatment is conducted in a chamber, decrease the total fumigation 

time to 2.5 hours
3

Evaluation: Use of the treatment T101-i-2-1 was extended to include baby kiwis, and 

pomegranates (USDA, 2010) and then figs (USDA, 2011) to mitigate risk from B. 

chilensis. Figs were later found to have a higher sorption rate of the MB gas than other 

commodities. Research conducted by ARS confirmed that an exposure of 3 hours 

combined with a half-pound increase in MB gas at each of the three temperature options 

provided below was needed to achieve 100 % mortality of the B. chilensis mites on figs 

(Jimenez and Walse, 2013). Since the efficacy of new schedule (T101-i-2-2) was not

verified under tarpaulin, the schedule is applicable only in chambers (Figure 2). For the 

reason as stated above, the action will also amend the treatment T101-i-2-1 by removing 

figs from the schedule. The revised T101-i-2-1 schedule for grapes, baby kiwis, and 

pomegranates for Chilean false red mite will be applicable both in chambers and under 

tarpaulin (Figure 3). APHIS’ experience with successful importation of these 

commodities using the existing treatment schedule has provided sufficient evidence to 

prove the effectiveness of the treatment. 

The following new schedule is being proposed for use with figs:

Figure 2: Proposed treatment T101-i-2-2 for Fig in chamber

T101-i-2-2 Fig (Ficus carica L) (new)

Pest: External feeders including Brevipalpus chilensis (Chilean false red mite)

Treatment: T101-i-2-2 MB at NAP—chamber

Figure 3: Proposed treatment T 101-i-2-1 for grapes, baby kiwis and pomegranates 

(after removal of figs)

T101-i-2-1 Grape (Vitis spp.), Baby kiwi (Actinidia arguta), and Pomegranate 

(Punica granatum L.) 

Pest: Brevipalpus chilensis (Chilean false red mite)

Treatment: T101-i-2-1 MB at NAP—tarpaulin or chamber2

 

Temperature Dosage rate

(lb./1,000 ft3)

Duration

(hours)

70oF or above 2.5 3

60-69oF 3.0 3

50-59oF 3.5 3
4

Author:

Inder Paul S Gadh, Ph. D., 

Senior Risk Manager – Treatments, 

APHIS PPQ RPM

Reviewers:

Laura A. Jeffers, Ph.D.

Pest Exclusion Specialist

CPHST AQI Raleigh

USDA-APHIS-PPQ

Literature cited:

Jiminez, L. and S.S. Walse. 2013. Postharvest methyl bromide chamber fumigation of 

fresh figs for Chilean false mite (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae). USDA 

Agricultural Research Service. (in publication). pp. 16.

USDA. 2010. Notice of Decision to Issue Permits for the Importation of Fresh 

Pomegranates and Baby Kiwi from Chile into the United States. Federal Register 

May 12, 2010. 75: 26707-26708

USDA. 2011. Notice of Decision to Issue Permits for the Importation of Fresh Figs From 

Chile into the Continental United States. Federal Register April 4, 2011. 76: 18511-

18512 

Wood, S. 2007. Personal Communication. United States Department of Agriculture, 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Center for Plant Health Science and 

Technology - Agriculture Quarantine Inspection

Temperature Dosage rate

(lb./1,000 ft3)

Duration

(hours)

80oF or above 1.5 3

70-79oF 2 3

60-69oF 2.5 3

50-59oF 3 3

40-49oF 4 3

1

If the treatment is conducted in a chamber, decrease the total fumigation 

time to 2.5 hours