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  6. Measures for plant products under the khapra beetle urgent actions

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Khapra beetle
    • Urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle
      • Measures for plant products under the khapra beetle urgent actions
      • Measures for sea containers under the khapra beetle urgent actions
      • Measures for seeds for sowing under the Khapra beetle urgent actions
    • Khapra beetle in imported goods
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Measures for plant products under the khapra beetle urgent actions

Measures for high-risk plant products

Split image of Khapra beetle with larvae on the left and seeds on the right.
​ Khapra beetle and larvae on rice (left) and coriander seed (right) ​

Measures for high-risk plant products exported from all countries are detailed below.

For the full list of import conditions refer to BICON

The following are high risk plant products which are a host of khapra beetle:

  • Bean seed (Phaseolus spp.)
  • Celery seed (Apium graveolens)
  • Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)
  • Coriander seed (Coriandrum sativum)
  • Cucurbit seed (Cucurbita, Cucumis, Citrullus spp.)
  • Cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum)
  • Dried chillies/capsicum (Capsicum spp.)
  • Faba bean, broad bean, fava bean (Vicia faba)
  • Fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare)
  • Lentils (Lens culinaris)
  • Mung beans, cowpeas (Vigna spp.)
  • Pea seed (Pisum sativum)
  • Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)
  • Pigeon Pea seed (Cajanus cajan)
  • Rice (Oryza sativa)
  • Safflower seed (Carthamus tinctorius)
  • Soybean (Glycine max)
  • Wheat seed (Triticum spp.)

Important: High-risk plant products also includes all synonyms and subordinate taxa of the species listed above.

Exemptions:

  • Commercially prepared and packaged goods that have been thermally processed so that the nature of the material has been transformed from their original raw form, such as retorted, blanched, roasted, fried, par-boiled, boiled, puffed, malted or pasteurised.
  • Goods that are commercially milled or ground to a powder, meal or flakes and packaged in bags less than or equal to 25kg.
  • Breakfast cereals, instant cereal beverage mixes, couscous meal mixes and snack foods (including muesli bars, granola bars and wholefood bars/balls, trail mixes) that are commercially prepared and retail packaged*
  • Bakery and bread mixes (including whole seeds) that are commercially prepared and retail packaged*
  • Commercially prepared and packaged herbal teas, with or without seeds (including loose leaf and teabags).
  • Goods that are chemically processed and preserved such as with a Formalin Propionic Acid fixative, Formalin Acetic acid alcohol, Carnoy’s fixative or ethanol.
  • Fresh vegetables.
  • Commercially manufactured frozen or freeze-dried food (perishable foodstuffs only).
  • Frozen plant samples for plant research (including through the use of liquid nitrogen and freeze drying).
  • Oils derived from vegetables or seed.
  • Preserved or pickled.
  • Goods that have been refined or extracted to obtain specific components from plant-based raw materials (including starch, lecithin, protein, cellulose, sugars and pigments).

*An imported good is considered retail packaged if it has been commercially prepared and packaged overseas and is in a final state that requires no further processing, packaging or labelling prior to retail sale or consumer use in Australia.

High risk plant products are banned from being imported into Australia via:

  • unaccompanied personal effects (UPEs)
  • low value (less than $1,000) air and sea freight (lodged through self-assessed clearance (SAC)).

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in export or destruction of the products upon arrival in Australia.

Important:
The following high-risk plant products, imported as low value (less than $1,000) air and sea freight (lodged through self-assessed clearance (SAC) are excluded from this ban:

Product Requirements to meet the exclusion from this ban
Seed for disease screening in post entry quarantine Documents:
  • A valid import permit issued by the department
  • Any documentation as specified on the relevant import permit.
Products for research purposes at an Australian research institution Documents:
  • A valid import permit issued by the department
    OR
  • Where an import permit is not required, a statement that declares the consignment is intended for research purposes and identifies the Australian research institute where research will be conducted.
Products imported for commercial use by an Australian business If arriving in low value freight, the consignment must meet the relevant treatment or inspection conditions. Importation of high-risk plant products via low value freight for personal use is not permitted.

Supporting documentation

Download

Unaccompanied Personal Effects and Low Value Freight Infographic (PDF 1.17 MB)
Unaccompanied Personal Effects and Low Value Freight Infographic (DOCX 1.65 MB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

High-risk plant products are banned from being imported into Australia via:

  • baggage carried by international travellers (including crew) entering via sea or air
  • mail articles (including items posted using Express Mail Service).

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in export or destruction of the products upon arrival in Australia.

Supporting documentation

Download

Mail and traveller infographic (PDF 1.45 MB)
Mail and traveller infographic (DOCX 3.43 MB)

Mail and traveller DL flyer – English version (PDF 612 KB)
Mail and traveller DL flyer – English version (DOCX 3.43 MB)

Mail infographic (PDF 884 KB)
Mail infographic (DOCX 3.43 MB)

Traveller infographic (PDF 588 KB)
Traveller infographic (DOCX 1.35 MB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Import conditions for high-risk plant products imported via commercial pathways have changed. For the full list of import conditions refer to BICON.

These conditions apply to air and sea freight, including Less than Container Load (LCL) and Full Container Load/Full Container Consolidated (FCL/FCX) containers. Seeds for sowing and goods that are imported for research purposes coming as low value freight (less than $1000) are excluded from these requirements.

The conditions vary depending on whether the exporting country is a khapra beetle target risk country or not. The table below outlines the importation requirements for khapra risk countries and all other countries.

Table 1: Importation requirements

Country of export Product requirements Treatment certificate required? Phytosanitary certificate required?
Khapra beetle target risk country

Note: If the products are to be packed into an FCL/FCX sea container, the sea container itself must also be treated. See details here.
  • Treated offshore
AND
  • Inspected by government official of exporting country
Yes Yes
All other countries
  • Inspected by government official of exporting country
No Yes

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the export of the container and/or the goods on-arrival in Australia.

Low value freight

High-risk plant products arriving as low value freight will only be permitted entry if the consignment is:

  • imported for commercial use by an Australian company or business
  • meets the relevant treatment or inspection requirement listed in Table 1 above.

To demonstrate that the goods have been imported for commercial use, one of the following documents will be required:

  • supplier’s declaration
  • manufacturer’s declaration
  • commercial invoice, or
  • importer declaration.

The document must provide evidence that the goods have been imported by an Australian company or business.

Offshore treatment requirements

High-risk plant products exported from Khapra beetle target risk countries via sea and air freight must be treated offshore.

The treatment must be completed within 21 days of export.

The approved treatment options are:

  • methyl bromide fumigation
  • heat treatment
  • controlled atmosphere treatment
    • altered pressure
    • atmospheric pressure

High-risk plant products must be:

  • fumigated offshore with methyl bromide at one of the rates listed in Table 2
  • accompanied by a methyl bromide treatment certificate
  • accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

The treatment and treatment certificate must meet the requirements of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology.

Table 2: Methyl bromide fumigation treatment rates

Temperature Minimum initial dose rate Exposure period Minimum end point reading
21°C and above 80 g/m³ 48 hours 20 g/m³
16°C - 20.9°C 88 g/m³ 48 hours 22 g/m³
11°C - 15.9°C 96 g/m³ 48 hours 24 g/m³
10°C - 10.9°C 104 g/m³ 48 hours 26 g/m³

Notes: Dose increases to compensate for temperatures less than 10°C are NOT permitted.

Packaging requirements for an effective fumigation

To ensure the fumigant effectively treats the products, the products must be either fumigated:

  • in gas permeable packaging; OR
  • prior to being packaged; OR
  • with any impermeable packaging open during fumigation.

Examples of gas permeable packaging include:

  • woven fabrics and plastics that are not lined/laminated with impermeable materials
  • dry cloth
  • perforated plastics or cellophane that meet the perforation requirements of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology
  • paper and cardboard that is not waxed, lined, laminated or painted.

Examples of non-permeable packaging include:

  • solid plastic or cellophane (including sheets, bags, pouches, films, wraps)
  • woven fabrics and plastics that are lined, coated or laminated with impermeable materials
  • paper and cardboard that is waxed, lined, laminated, or painted
  • sealed pouches, tins and cans
  • sealed glass jars and bottles.

See our packaging suitability guide for more information: Guide to packaging suitability for performing QPS treatments

The high-risk plant products must be:

  • heat treated offshore at a minimum temperature of 60°C for 120 minutes, measured at the core of the goods
  • accompanied by a heat treatment certificate
  • accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

The treatment and treatment certificate must meet the requirements of the Heat Treatment Methodology.

Note: the above heat treatment rate (60°C for 120 minutes) applies to high-risk plant products only. The khapra beetle heat treatment rate for sea containers is 60°C for 180 minutes, as detailed on the sea containers webpage.

High-risk plant products must be:

  • treated offshore using a controlled atmosphere treatment at one of the rates in Table 3
  • accompanied by a controlled atmosphere treatment certificate
  • accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate
  • accompanied by an import permit. Please include the following details in your permit application:
    • controlled atmosphere treatment rate that will be used
    • name and contact details of the treatment provider
    • details of any government registration or approvals to treat goods for export
    • type/brand of controlled atmosphere treatment system
    • how the plant products are packaged for treatment.

Table 3: Controlled Atmosphere Treatments: Altered pressure rates

Temperature Concentration Pressure Minimum Exposure period
20°C or above Carbon dioxide (CO2) - 95% or above 20 bar or above 5 hours
20°C or above Carbon dioxide (CO2) - 95% or above 30 bar or above 3 hours

Notes: The temperature must be for the enclosure and the products.

Packaging requirements for an effective treatment

To ensure the treatment effectively treats the products, the products must be treated either:

  • in gas permeable packaging; OR
  • prior to being packaged; OR
  • with any impermeable packaging open during fumigation.

Examples of gas permeable packaging include:

  • woven fabrics and plastics that are not lined/laminated with impermeable materials
  • dry cloth
  • perforated plastics or cellophane that meet the perforation requirements of the Controlled Atmosphere Treatment Methodology
  • paper and cardboard that is not waxed, lined, laminated or painted.

Examples of non-permeable packaging include:

  • solid plastic or cellophane (including sheets, bags, pouches, films, wraps)
  • woven fabrics and plastics that are lined, coated or laminated with impermeable materials
  • paper and cardboard that is waxed, lined, laminated, or painted
  • sealed pouches, tins and cans
  • sealed glass jars and bottles.

See our packaging suitability guide for more information: Guide to packaging suitability for performing QPS treatments.

High-risk plant products must be:

  • treated offshore using a controlled atmosphere treatment at one of the rates listed in Table 4
  • accompanied by a controlled atmosphere treatment certificate
  • accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate
  • accompanied by an import permit. Please include the following details in your permit application:
    • controlled atmosphere treatment rate that will be used
    • name and contact details of the treatment provider
    • details of any government registration or approvals to treat goods for export
    • type/brand of controlled atmosphere treatment system
    • how the plant products are packaged for treatment.

The treatment and the treatment certificate must meet the requirements of the Controlled Atmosphere Treatment Methodology.

Table 4: Controlled Atmosphere Treatments: Atmospheric pressure rates

Temperature Concentration Pressure Minimum Exposure period
25°C or above Carbon dioxide (CO2) - 80% or above Normal atmospheric pressure 28 consecutive days (672 hours)
Greater than or equal to 25°C and less than 28°C Oxygen (O2) - 1% or less Normal atmospheric pressure 22 consecutive days (528 hours)
28°C or above Oxygen (O2) - 1% or less Normal atmospheric pressure 12 consecutive days (288 hours)

Notes: The temperature must be for the enclosure and the products.

Packaging requirements for an effective treatment

To ensure the treatment effectively treats the products, the products must be treated either:

  • in gas permeable packaging; OR
  • prior to being packaged; OR
  • with any impermeable packaging open during fumigation.

Examples of gas permeable packaging include:

  • woven fabrics and plastics that are not lined/laminated with impermeable materials
  • dry cloth
  • perforated plastics or cellophane that meet the perforation requirements of the Controlled Atmosphere Treatment Methodology
  • paper and cardboard that is not waxed, lined, laminated or painted.

Examples of non-permeable packaging include:

  • solid plastic or cellophane (including sheets, bags, pouches, films, wraps)
  • woven fabrics and plastics that are lined, coated or laminated with impermeable materials
  • paper and cardboard that is waxed, lined, laminated, or painted
  • sealed pouches, tins and cans
  • sealed glass jars and bottles.

See our packaging suitability guide for more information: Guide to packaging suitability for performing QPS treatments.

Recognising that our approved treatment options may not be feasible for some products and pathways, we have approved the alternative treatment option of controlled atmosphere treatments. We are committed to providing additional alternative treatment options where possible and as such, we are exploring and will continue to consider other alternatives.

We welcome submissions on alternative treatments. Alternative treatment options must be proven to be effective against all life stages of khapra beetle. For us to consider an alternative treatment option, the submission must include:

  • a treatment targeted at the diapausing larvae stage of khapra beetle (as this is the most difficult life stage to kill)
  • efficacy data demonstrating effectiveness of the treatment
  • independently validated results.

If you would like to submit an alternative treatment option for our consideration, please contact us via email imports@aff.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Plant Tier 2 – khapra urgent actions’).

The treatment must be completed within 21 days of export. To demonstrate compliance with this requirement, the date of export (as indicated on an air waybill, bill of lading, sealing declaration, gate in gate out certificate or forwarder’s cargo receipt) must be within 21 days of the goods being treated (as indicated on the treatment certificate).

Note: under the department’s Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy, a consignment is considered to be exported either when it is:

  • lodged with the freight forwarder, shipping company/airline, charter operator or an appointed agent in the place of origin, for ultimate destination in an Australian territory, OR
  • shipped on board the vessel for an ultimate destination in an Australian territory, OR
  • packed in a container and sealed in preparation for transport for an ultimate destination in an Australia territory.

As outlined in Table 1 above, all high-risk plant products imported via high-value sea and air freight require phytosanitary certification. The phytosanitary certificate must include an additional declaration, as detailed below.

Khapra beetle country of export

If the products are to be exported from a khapra beetle target risk country, the following information applies.

The declarations required on the phytosanitary certificate are dependent on the treatment type used to treat the products.

Table 5: Additional declarations that are required on the phytosanitary certificate for high-risk plant products exported from khapra beetle target risk countries

Treatment type Additional phytosanitary certificate declarations required
Methyl Bromide The following declarations are required:
  1. “The goods were fumigated with methyl bromide in accordance with Australia’s Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology as per the attached methyl bromide treatment certificate [insert cert number].”
AND
  1. One of the following declarations:
    1. “The goods were fumigated in gas permeable packaging”
    2. “The goods were fumigated prior to packing”
    3. “Impermeable packaging was open during fumigation”
Note: Certificates containing more than one of the above packaging declarations will not be accepted. 

AND
  1. “Following treatment, representative samples were inspected and found free from all live species of Trogoderma.”
Heat Treatment The following declarations are required:
  1. “The goods were treated in accordance with Australia’s Heat Treatment Methodology as per the attached Heat Treatment certificate [insert cert number].”
AND
  1. “Following treatment, representative samples were inspected and found free from all live species of Trogoderma.”
Controlled Atmosphere Treatments The following declarations are required:
  1. “The goods were treated in accordance with Australia’s Controlled Atmosphere Methodology as per the attached Controlled Atmosphere Treatment certificate [insert cert number].”
AND
  1. One of the following declarations:
    1. “The goods were treated in gas permeable packaging”
    2. “The goods were treated prior to packing”
    3. “Impermeable packaging was open during treatment”
Note: Certificates containing more than one of the above packaging declarations will not be accepted. 

AND
  1. “Following treatment, representative samples were inspected and found free from all live species of Trogoderma.”

All other countries

If the products are to be exported from any other country, i.e. a country not listed as khapra beetle target risk country, the following information applies.

All high-risk plant products must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that includes the following additional declaration:

“Representative samples were inspected and found free from evidence of any species of Trogoderma (whether live, dead or exuviae) in Australia’s list of Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern”.

Did you know? The genus Trogoderma currently has more than 150 known species with varied world distribution. A number of Trogoderma species including khapra beetle have been identified as pests of biosecurity concern for Australia. For a full list see Australia’s list of Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern.

Measures for other-risk plant products

All other-risk plant products must be:

  • inspected offshore by a government official of exporting country; AND
  • certified as being free from any listed species of Trogoderma (whether live, dead or exuviae) in Australia’s list of Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern.

For a full list of import conditions refer to BICON.

Notes:

  • If other-risk plant products are packed into a container with high-risk plant products in a khapra beetle target risk country, all goods must be treated and certified using an approved option for high-risk plant products, see above sections.
  • The requirements exclude goods that are imported for research purposes (less than $1,000).
  • Sea container requirements to protect against khapra beetle may apply. Refer to the sea container webpage for more detail.
  • Failure to comply with the above requirements may result in the destruction or export of the goods on-arrival in Australia.

The following table outlines which other-risk plant products are subject to the khapra measures. The measures apply to all end uses, except herbarium specimens and research material.

Other-risk plant products Are the other-risk plant products subject to the khapra measures?
Mode of arrival
Mail Accompanied baggage* Low value freight** Other
Seeds
(other than high-risk plant product seeds)
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Nuts
(other than high-risk plant product nuts)
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Plant gums and resins No No No Yes
Processed seed, tuber and corm products (other than high-risk plant products, including flours, meals and flakes) No No No Yes
Dried fruits (other than high-risk plant product dried fruit) No No No Yes
Dried vegetables (other than high-risk plant product dried vegetables; and including mushrooms) No No No Yes
Unprocessed plant products (excluding fresh fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, herbarium specimens, fresh cut flowers, coir peat, peat and timber) No No No Yes

* ‘Accompanied baggage’ means goods that are brought or imported into Australia by a passenger, or a member of the crew, of a ship or aircraft.

** ‘Low value freight’ means goods that are brought or imported into Australia as air or sea freight with a value not exceeding the amount prescribed for the purposes of subparagraph 68(1)(f)(iii) of the Customs Act 1901.

Exemptions:

  • Commercially prepared and packaged goods that have been thermally processed so that the nature of the material has been transformed from their original raw form, such as retorted, blanched, roasted, fried, par-boiled, boiled, puffed, malted or pasteurised.
  • Goods that are commercially milled or ground to a powder, meal or flakes and packaged in bags less than or equal to 25kg.
  • Breakfast cereals, instant cereal beverage mixes, couscous meal mixes and snack foods (including muesli bars, granola bars and wholefood bars/balls, trail mixes) that are commercially prepared and retail packaged*
  • Bakery and bread mixes (including whole seeds) that are commercially prepared and retail packaged*
  • Commercially prepared and packaged herbal teas, with or without seeds (including loose leaf and teabags).
  • Goods that are chemically processed and preserved such as with a Formalin Propionic Acid fixative, Formalin Acetic acid alcohol, Carnoy’s fixative or ethanol.
  • Fresh vegetables.
  • Commercially prepared, shelled nuts packaged under strong vacuum.
  • Commercially manufactured frozen or freeze-dried food (perishable foodstuffs only).
  • Commercially prepared and retail packaged*peppercorn grinders.
  • Commercially vacuum-sealed green coffee bean trade samples imported as mail or passenger baggage or low value freight (below dutiable customs value).
  • Frozen plant samples for plant research (including through the use of liquid nitrogen and freeze drying).
  • Oils derived from vegetables or seed.
  • Preserved or pickled.
  • Goods that have been refined or extracted to obtain specific components from plant-based raw materials (including refined gum, starch, lecithin, protein, cellulose, sugars and pigments).
  • Medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed products irradiated at or above 1 KGy.

*An imported good is considered retail packaged if it has been commercially prepared and packaged overseas and is in a final state that requires no further processing, packaging or labelling prior to retail sale or consumer use in Australia.

All other-risk plant products are required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that includes the following additional declaration:

“Representative samples were inspected and found free from evidence of any species of Trogoderma (whether live, dead or exuviae) in Australia’s list of Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern”.

Did you know? The genus Trogoderma currently has more than 150 known species with varied world distribution. A number of Trogoderma species including khapra beetle have been identified as pests of biosecurity concern for Australia. For a full list see Australia’s list of Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern.

See. Secure. Report.

If you suspect you have seen khapra beetle or anything unusual please report it, even if you are not sure.

Get in touch

If you want to receive updates on the urgent actions register to receive BICON alerts and IANs.

For any questions, please contact us on 1800 900 090 or via email at imports@aff.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Plant Tier 2 – khapra urgent actions’).

General enquiries

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Last updated: 16 August 2023

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.