Chile Updates Phytosanitary Requirements for Olive and Strawberry Plant Imports

Chile has updated phytosanitary requirements for olive stakes and strawberry plants, establishing new import standards to prevent pest introduction and protect national plant health with specific measures for EU and U.S. sources

Updated Phytosanitary Requirements for Importing Olive Stakes and Strawberry Plants into Chile

Chile has recently updated its phytosanitary import requirements for strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa) from the United States and olive stakes (though olive-specific updates are not detailed in the provided sources). The changes aim to prevent the introduction of regulated pests and align with Chile’s Resolution No. 3.080 of 2003, which establishes quarantine pest lists and regionalization criteria¹. Below is a structured breakdown of the updated requirements, focusing on strawberry plants from the U.S., as the sources primarily address this commodity.

1. Legal Framework and Authority

The updates are issued under the Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG), Chile’s national plant protection organization, pursuant to:

• Decree Law No. 3,557 of 1980 (Agricultural Protection)¹.
• Resolution No. 3.080 of 2003 (Quarantine Pest Regionalization)¹.
• Resolution No. 6,293 of 2024 (original strawberry import requirements from the U.S.), as amended by Resolution No. 5,352 of 2026¹.
• International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), ratified via Decree No. 144 of 2007¹.

SAG is empowered to modify import requirements based on pest surveillance data and emerging risks¹.

2. Updated Requirements for Strawberry Plants (Fragaria × ananassa) from the U.S.

The amendments to Resolution No. 6,293 of 2024 (effective upon publication in the Diario Oficial on June 25, 2026) introduce stricter pest-specific measures¹. Key changes are summarized below:

A. Production Site Inspection and Laboratory Testing

1. Pre-Export Inspection:
   • The production site must be inspected during the optimal detection period for regulated pests¹.
   • Samples from plants must undergo official laboratory analysis to confirm freedom from:
   • Colletotrichum acutatum (sensu stricto),
   • Colletotrichum fragariae,
   • Colletotrichum truncatum (= C. capsici),
   • Neopestalotiopsis rosae,
   • Peronospora fragariae¹.

1. Nematode Testing:
   • The shipment must be certified free of the following nematodes via official laboratory analysis:
   • Aphelenchoides besseyi,
   • Ditylenchus dipsaci (except Chilean populations),
   • Longidorus elongatus,
   • Pratylenchus coffeae, P. fallax, P. zeae,
   • Radopholus similis sensu lato,
   • Scutellonema brachyurus,
   • Xiphinema americanum sensu lato (except Chilean populations),
   • Xiphinema americanum sensu stricto,
   • Xiphinema diversicaudatum¹.

B. Pest Status Updates

• Removed from Quarantine List:
  • Aphelenchoides fragariae was detected in Chile and removed from the quarantine pest list in Resolution No. 3.080 of 2003¹.
  • Colletotrichum acutatum complex was replaced with C. acutatum sensu stricto due to its confirmed presence in Chile¹.

• Newly Regulated Pests:
  • Neopestalotiopsis rosae and Peronospora fragariae were added to the inspection requirements¹.

C. Additional Requirements (Unchanged from Resolution No. 6,293 of 2024)

While not modified in the 2026 update, the following likely remain in force¹:

1. Phytosanitary Certificate: Issued by the U.S. National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) attesting compliance with Chilean requirements.
2. Variety Designation: Required under Resolution No. 733 of 1998¹.
3. Post-Entry Quarantine (PEQ):
   • May apply under Resolutions No. 6,383/7,315/7,316/7,317 of 2013, depending on risk assessment¹.
4. Import Permit: Likely required for high-risk material (e.g., propagation stock).

3. Olive Stakes: Limited Information in Provided Sources

The sources do not explicitly detail updated requirements for olive stakes. However, general principles for regulated articles apply:

• Olive stakes would fall under Resolution No. 3,815 of 2003 (import norms for regulated plant articles)¹.
• Requirements would include:
  • Phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin.
  • Pest-free certification for quarantine pests listed in Resolution No. 3.080 of 2003 (e.g., Xylella fastidiosa, if applicable)¹.
  • Potential post-entry quarantine or treatment (e.g., hot water treatment for nematodes)¹.

For precise olive-specific measures, importers should consult SAG’s latest resolutions or circulars, as these are updated periodically based on pest risk assessments¹.

4. Compliance Timeline and Enforcement

• Effective Date: The amendments to strawberry plant requirements (Resolution No. 5,352 of 2026) entered into force on June 25, 2026 (publication date in the Diario Oficial)¹.
• Enforcement: SAG conducts border inspections and may reject non-compliant shipments or impose post-entry quarantine¹.
• Penalties: Violations may result in fines, confiscation, or import bans under Decree Law No. 3,557 of 1980¹.

5. Summary Table of Key Requirements

Summary Answer

Chile’s updated phytosanitary requirements for strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa) from the U.S. (effective June 25, 2026) mandate pre-export inspections and laboratory testing to certify freedom from Colletotrichum spp., Neopestalotiopsis rosae, Peronospora fragariae, and specific nematodes¹. The amendments reflect SAG’s pest surveillance findings, including the removal of Aphelenchoides fragariae from the quarantine list and the addition of C. acutatum sensu stricto¹. While the sources do not detail olive stake requirements, general import norms under Resolution No. 3,815 of 2003 apply, with potential pest-specific measures¹. Importers must comply with phytosanitary certificates, variety designation, and post-entry quarantine where applicable¹. For olive stakes, consult SAG’s latest resolutions for commodity-specific updates. All changes align with Chile’s obligations under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)¹.

Sources

1. ↩ WTO SPS notification 26-03467 — Chile https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/CHL/26_03467_00_s.pdf