On 7 July 2022, we commenced a pest risk analysis on khapra beetle. For more information visit the Khapra beetle pest risk analysis web page.
We are regularly updating this webpage to answer your queries. We will provide further updates on the implementation of each phase as we work through the complexities of the urgent actions.
Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) is a small but serious pest, and we want to keep it out of Australia. As such, we are implementing urgent actions that will impact imports of plant products and sea containers. The urgent actions are being supported by a $14.5 million investment to safeguard Australia against this significant pest.
Urgent actions
The urgent actions are being implemented in phases. Click on the links below for further detail on each phase.
- Requirements for high-risk plant products
(Phases 1-3) - Requirements for other-risk plant products
(Phase 4) - Requirements for seeds for sowing
(Phase 5) - Requirements for sea containers
(Phase 6)
The implementation dates for each phase are outlined in the below table and infographic. Please note that the numbering of these phases does not match the order of implementation due to changes in risk patterns of khapra beetle.
| Urgent Action Phase | Implementation date |
|---|---|
| Phase 1: Ban on high-risk plant products within UPEs and low value freight | Commenced 3 September 2020 |
| Phase 2: Ban on high-risk plant products within accompanied baggage or via international travellers or mail articles. | Commenced 15 October 2020 |
| Phase 3: Revised phytosanitary certification and new offshore treatment requirements for high-risk plant products via all commercial pathways | Commenced 30 September 2021 |
| Phase 4: Revised phytosanitary certification requirements for other risk plant products | Commenced 28 April 2022 |
| Phase 5: Phytosanitary certification requirements for seeds for sowing | Commenced 28 April 2022 |
| Phase 6A: New measures for target risk sea containers | Measures for target risk containers packed with high-risk plant products commenced on 12 April 2021. Measures for target risk containers that are packed with other products and will be unpacked in a rural grain growing postcode commenced on 12 July 2021. These measures were extended to sea containers that will be unpacked in rural nut-growing postcodes exported on or after 15 December 2021. |
| Phase 6B: New measures for a broader range of sea containers | Implementation date to be announced |
Download
| Document | File size |
|---|---|
| Infographic: Khapra beetle urgent actions phases PDF | 447 KB |
| Infographic: Khapra beetle urgent actions phases DOCX | 52 KB |
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Khapra beetle is Australia’s number two National Priority Plant Pest and the number one plant priority pest for grains. It is not present in Australia, but it is a highly invasive pest that poses a major threat to Australia’s grains industry. Khapra beetle destroys grain quality making it unfit for human or animal consumption.
A number of countries, including Australia, have seen a recent increase in khapra interceptions. It is being detected in:
- imported plant products
- goods that it previously had no association with
- sea containers as a hitchhiker pest
- imports from countries not known to have khapra beetle.
Learn more about:
- khapra beetle in our pest bulletin
- the hitchhiking risk of khapra beetle in our article.
Download
| Document | File size |
|---|---|
| Khapra beetle poster PDF | 546 KB |
| Khapra beetle poster DOCX | 2.1 MB |
If you have difficulty accessing these files, please visit web accessibility.
The below video gives an overview of the risks khapra beetle poses to Australia and how to identify this significant pest.
Download
| Document | File size |
|---|---|
| The risks of khapra beetle - Transcript DOCX | 42 KB |
If you have difficulty accessing these files, please visit web accessibility.
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.