Chile has revised phytosanitary import requirements for strawberry and berry plants, removing pests present in the country and updating virus nomenclature, including changes to Colletotrichum acutatum and Raspberry ringspot virus, as well as restricting blackberry and raspberry imports to a single Santiago office, effective from the publication date of the amendments
Chile Updates Strawberry and Berry Plant Import Rules
New phytosanitary requirements remove certain pests and update virus naming.
What changed
Three pests removed from EU strawberry plant requirements as they’re already present in Chile.
Three pests removed from NZ blackberry and raspberry requirements as they’re already present in Chile.
Virus names updated for Colletotrichum acutatum, Raspberry ringspot virus, and Tomato black ring virus.
Single entry point required for blackberry and raspberry cuttings from NZ through Santiago airport only.
New requirements for olive cuttings from EU, replacing 2007 regulations.
Who it affects
EU strawberry plant importers must comply with updated pest declaration requirements.
NZ berry plant importers must route all shipments through Santiago airport.
EU olive cutting importers must follow new phytosanitary requirements.
US strawberry plant importers must follow updated requirements from 25 June 2026.
What to do for NZ berry imports
Ensure shipments don’t include the three removed pest declarations.
Route all blackberry and raspberry cuttings through Santiago airport.
Process through SAG Foreign Trade Office at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport.
Key dates
Compliance Answer: Chile’s Revised Phytosanitary Import Requirements for Strawberry and Berry Plants
Chile has updated its phytosanitary import requirements for strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), and raspberry (Rubus idaeus) plants, effective from the publication date of the amendments in the Diario Oficial de la República de Chile. The revisions include:
- Removal of pests previously listed as absent in Chile (e.g., Aphelenchoides fragariae, Colletotrichum acutatum complex) from quarantine lists1.
- Updated pest nomenclature, including the replacement of Colletotrichum acutatum complex with Colletotrichum acutatum sensu stricto and the renaming of Raspberry ringspot virus2, 1.
- Centralized import processing for blackberry and raspberry plants to a single office in Santiago3.
Regulation Analysis
1. Key Changes to Phytosanitary Requirements
The amendments modify three primary resolutions, each targeting specific origins and plant types:
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Effective Date | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution modifying N° 6.293 (2024) (Strawberry plants from the U.S.) | – Place of production must be inspected and samples tested, confirming freedom from Colletotrichum acutatum, C. truncatum (= C. capsici), and Neopestalotiopsis rosae1. | Publication date in Diario Oficial | Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) |
| Resolution modifying N° 1.923 (2025) (Strawberry plants from the EU) | – Removes Tetranychus turkestani from quarantine list2. – Requires testing for Colletotrichum acutatum, C. truncatum, and Neopestalotiopsis rosae2. – Plants must be free of Raspberry ringspot virus and other specified viruses2. | Publication date in Diario Oficial | SAG |
| Resolution modifying N° 634 (2013) (Blackberry/Raspberry from New Zealand) | – Imports restricted to Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (Santiago)3. – Certificates must declare freedom from pests (e.g., Carposina rubophaga, Kuehneola uredinis) and nematodes (Longidorus elongatus, Xiphinema americanum)3. | Publication date in Diario Oficial | SAG |
2. Pest-Specific Updates
a. Removed from Quarantine Lists
- Aphelenchoides fragariae: Detected in Chile; removed from Resolution N° 3.080 (2003)1.
- Colletotrichum acutatum complex: Replaced with Colletotrichum acutatum sensu stricto (C. acutatum) after detection in Chile1.
b. Updated Nomenclature
- Raspberry ringspot virus: Now referenced as Nepovirus rubi2.
- Tomato black ring virus: Now Nepovirus nigranuli2.
c. Newly Regulated Pests
- Neopestalotiopsis rosae: Added to testing requirements for strawberry plants from the U.S. and EU2, 1.
- Xiphinema americanum sensu stricto: Explicitly listed for blackberry/raspberry imports3.
3. Import Restrictions for Blackberry and Raspberry Plants
- Centralization: Imports of Rubus fruticosus (blackberry) and Rubus idaeus (raspberry) from New Zealand must enter through Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (Santiago)3. This aligns with Resolution N° 6.383 (2013), which mandates post-entry quarantine at this location3.
- Certification Requirements: Phytosanitary certificates must include declarations for:
4. Legal Basis
The amendments are grounded in:
- Decree Law N° 3.557 (1980): Agricultural protection3, 1.
- International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC): Promulgated via Decree N° 144 (2007)3, 1.
- SAG’s Organic Law (N° 18.755): Authority to regulate phytosanitary risks3, 1.
Summary Answer
Chile’s recent revisions to phytosanitary import requirements for strawberry, blackberry, and raspberry plants reflect updated pest surveillance data and nomenclature. Key changes include:
- Removal of pests (Aphelenchoides fragariae, Colletotrichum acutatum complex) from quarantine lists after detection in Chile1.
- Updated testing requirements for strawberry plants from the U.S. and EU, including Colletotrichum acutatum sensu stricto and Neopestalotiopsis rosae2, 1.
- Centralized import processing for blackberry and raspberry plants to Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez Airport, with mandatory declarations for pests and nematodes3.
The amendments entered into force upon publication in the Diario Oficial2, 3, 1. Importers must comply with origin-specific requirements and ensure phytosanitary certificates reflect the updated pest lists.
Sources
- ↩ WTO SPS notification 26-03467 — Chile https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/CHL/26_03467_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 26-04079 — Chile https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/CHL/26_04079_00_s.pdf