Chile has revised phytosanitary requirements for berry plants including blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry imports by removing pests present in the country and restricting entry to designated offices.
Chile Streamlines Berry Plant Import Rules
Importers must now use a single entry point as pest requirements are reduced.
What changed
Pest requirements removed for three pests already present in Chile.
Virus names updated to Nepovirus avii and Nepovirus rubi for international alignment.
Strawberry imports simplified from EU with fewer additional declarations.
Centralized entry point at Santiago airport for all berry plant imports.
Who it affects
Berry plant importers must route all shipments through Santiago airport.
EU strawberry exporters face fewer phytosanitary declaration requirements.
SAG Foreign Trade Office now handles all berry plant import procedures.
What to do
Direct all berry plant imports to Santiago airport’s SAG office.
Update documentation with new virus nomenclature.
Remove declarations for pests now present in Chile.
Compliance Answer: Revised Phytosanitary Requirements for Berry Plant Imports in Chile
Chile has updated its phytosanitary import requirements for berry plants (blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry) to reflect pest presence in the country and restrict entry points. The revisions remove certain pests from quarantine lists and mandate inspections, laboratory analyses, and specific declarations on phytosanitary certificates.
1. Regulatory Framework
The revisions are governed by the Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG), under the following legal authorities:
- Law No. 18,755 (Organic Law of SAG)1, 2, 3
- Decree Law No. 3,557 of 1980 (Agricultural Protection)1, 2, 3
- Decree No. 144 of 2007 (International Plant Protection Convention)1, 2, 3
- Resolution No. 3,080 of 2003 (Quarantine Pest Regionalization Criteria)1, 2, 3
2. Key Changes to Phytosanitary Requirements
A. Removal of Pests from Quarantine Lists
SAG has removed the following pests from the list of absent quarantine pests (Resolution No. 3,080 of 2003) due to their detection in Chile:
- Aphelenchoides fragariae (strawberry nematode)3, 2
- Colletotrichum acutatum complex (replaced by Colletotrichum acutatum sensu stricto)3, 2
- Tetranychus turkestani (spider mite)1, 2
- Peronospora fragariae (strawberry downy mildew)2
B. Updated Import Requirements for Specific Berry Plants
The revisions modify three key resolutions, imposing stricter inspection, laboratory analysis, and certification requirements:
i. Strawberry Plants (Fragaria × ananassa)
- From the United States (Resolution No. 6,293 of 2024, modified3):
- Inspection and laboratory analysis of production sites during optimal detection periods, confirming freedom from:
- Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum fragariae, Colletotrichum truncatum, Neopestalotiopsis rosae, and Peronospora fragariae3.
- Nematode testing: Shipments must be free of Aphelenchoides besseyi, Ditylenchus dipsaci (except Chilean populations), Longidorus elongatus, Pratylenchus spp., Radopholus similis, Scutellonema brachyurus, and Xiphinema spp. (except Chilean populations)3.
- From the European Union (Resolution No. 1,923 of 2025, modified2):
- Removed pest: Tetranychus turkestani is no longer a regulated pest2.
- Laboratory analysis required for Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum truncatum, and Neopestalotiopsis rosae2.
- Virus testing: Plants must be free of Erwinia amylovora, Xanthomonas fragariae, Raspberry ringspot virus, Tomato black ring virus, and Tobacco necrosis virus2.
- Nematode testing: Same as U.S. requirements, with additional exclusion of Longidorus attenuatus and Longidorus macrosoma2.
ii. Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), and Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
- From New Zealand (Resolution No. 634 of 2013, modified1):
- Arthropod exclusion: Shipments must be free of Carposina rubophaga, Ctenopseustis obliquana, Epiphyas postvittana, and Planotortrix excessana1.
- Fungal testing: Plants must derive from mother plants inspected and found free of Kuehneola uredinis (blackberry/raspberry) and Phragmidium rubi-idaei (raspberry)1.
- Virus testing: Freedom from Cherry leaf roll virus (raspberry)1.
- Nematode testing: For rooted materials, freedom from Longidorus elongatus and Xiphinema americanum sensu lato (except Chilean populations)1.
C. Entry Restrictions
- Designated ports of entry: Imports of regulated berry plants must enter through SAG-authorized ports, as per Decree No. 510 of 20161, 2, 3.
- Post-entry quarantine: If required, material must enter via Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (Resolution No. 6,383 of 2013)1.
3. Summary Table of Key Requirements
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Applicability | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution No. 6,293 (2024) | Strawberry plants from the U.S. must be inspected and tested for Colletotrichum spp., Neopestalotiopsis rosae, and Peronospora fragariae3. Nematode testing required for Aphelenchoides besseyi, Ditylenchus dipsaci, etc.3. | U.S. imports | SAG |
| Resolution No. 1,923 (2025) | Strawberry plants from the EU must be tested for Colletotrichum acutatum, C. truncatum, and Neopestalotiopsis rosae2. Tetranychus turkestani removed from quarantine list2. Nematode testing required2. | EU imports | SAG |
| Resolution No. 634 (2013) | Blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry plants from New Zealand must be free of specified arthropods (Carposina rubophaga, etc.) and fungi (Kuehneola uredinis, Phragmidium rubi-idaei)1. Virus and nematode testing required1. | New Zealand imports | SAG |
| Resolution No. 3,080 (2003) | Quarantine pest list updated to remove Aphelenchoides fragariae and Colletotrichum acutatum complex (replaced by C. acutatum sensu stricto)2, 3. | All regulated imports | SAG |
4. Summary Answer
Chile has revised its phytosanitary import requirements for berry plants (strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry) to remove pests detected in the country (e.g., Aphelenchoides fragariae, Colletotrichum acutatum complex) from quarantine lists2, 3 and tighten inspection and testing protocols1, 2, 3. Imports must now comply with species-specific laboratory analyses for fungi, viruses, and nematodes, and enter through designated ports1, 2, 3. The updates reflect SAG’s periodic review of pest distribution and risk, as mandated by Resolution No. 3,080 of 20031, 2, 3. All changes are effective upon publication in the Diario Oficial de la República de Chile1, 2, 3.
Sources
- ↩ WTO SPS notification 26-04079 — Chile https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/CHL/26_04079_00_s.pdf
- ↩ WTO SPS notification 26-04078 — Chile https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/CHL/26_04078_00_s.pdf
- ↩ WTO SPS notification 26-03467 — Chile https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/CHL/26_03467_00_s.pdf