European Union

​Export Requirements:
Shipping U.S. fruit of the genus Vaccinium spp. to the European Union requires a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) issued by USDA-APHIS.
PCs should bear one of the following Additional Declarations:
  • The fruits originate in an area free from Grapholita packardi (cherry fruitworm).
OR
  • The fruits originate in a place of production where inspections and surveys for Grapholita packardi have been carried out at appropriate times during the growing season and are free from Grapholita packardi.
OR
  • The fruits are produced under a systems approach or have been treated to ensure freedom from Grapholita packardi.
Treatments details must be listed in the treatment block of the phytosanitary certificate.  If the fruits are certified under a systems approach, enter “Systems approach” in block 6.  If the fruits are certified under a treatment, enter “Treatment” in block 6.
For 87 pesticides with U.S. blueberry MRLs, 2 pesticides have no European Union (EU) pesticide MRL standard established, and 43 have an EU MRL more restrictive than the U.S. MRL.  Thirty-two (32) of these pesticides have an EU MRL harmonized with or set higher than the U.S. MRL.
​Tariffs:
On November 10, 2020, the EU imposed an additional retaliatory tariff of 25% on a range of U.S. agricultural products, including fresh highbush blueberries (08104050).  The EU also imposed an additional retaliatory tariff of 25% on some frozen, unsweetened bilberries. These include Vacinnium myrtillus (08119050), as well as Vacinnium myrtilloides and Vaccinium angustifolium (08119070). These tariffs on frozen bilberries do not cover frozen highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum).
Update: On March 5, 2021, the EU agreed to suspend the 25% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods for four months as part of a mutual suspension between the U.S. and EU of retaliatory tariffs related to the World Trade Organization aircraft disputes. On June 15, 2021, the U.S. and EU agreed to extend the suspension of tariffs for a further five years while negotiations occur on a permanent resolution.