European Grapevine Moth in Chilean prunes exported to USA

Effective April 1, 2021, all consignments of fresh plums (Prunus domestica) from Chile for export to the United States must be treated either by irradiation with a minimum absorbed dose of 400 Gy upon arrival in the United States or fumigation with methyl bromide in Chile under the preclearance program. The Federal Order follows the interception of European Grapevine Moth (EGVM) (Lobesia botrana) larvae and pupae at the port of export. APHIS has determined that fresh plum consignments destined for the United States from Chile pose a significant phytosanitary risk to the United States domestic fruit industry, especially grapes, and now considers fresh plum fruit to be a host of EGVM.

The European Grapevine moth is native to Europe and attacks primarily grape flowers and fruit but has several other hosts of poor or unknown status. In Europe it causes grape growers to incur control costs and significant damage. The European Grapevine Moth was detected in Chile in April of 2008 on grapes. Damage caused by the pest can be extensive; some Chilean growers reported losses of up to 70% of their grape crops in 2008. EGVM became established in California in 2009 and was eradicated after 7 years and expenditures of more than one hundred million USD.
It can be noted that an Annex to  ISPM 28 currently under review ( Irradiation treatment for Tortricidae on fruits – 2017- 011) proposes a minimum absorbed dose of 250 Gy to prevent emergence of viable adults from irradiated eggs and larvae of Tortricidae.