The Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Furche, stated that, after confirming the region of Valparaiso was free from fruit fly specimens, Chile has regained its official free of fruit fly status.
Having detected a couple of specimens of the plague in the town of San Esteban, in the region of Valparaiso, the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) activated a rigorous plan to prevent the plague from spreading and to eradicate it, which allowed Chile to recover its status of being a country free of fruit flies.
The work was also carried out with farmers in the Aconcagua Valley.
The campaign consisted of increasing the amount of specific traps for the detection of this insect, sampling fruit susceptible to infestation, applying low-toxicity insecticides, as well as other quarantine measures to prevent the possible spread of the fruit fly to other production areas in the country.
"This took place in the second half of April this year. This is a place that is very exposed. It is the main passage for people, vehicles, and heavy cargo coming from economies facing the Atlantic, primarily Brazil and Argentina," said the Minister.
According to the authority, the finding of a couple of insects is enough to concern their trading partners and to immediately implement a set of restrictions on exports.
