Khapra beetle pest risk analysis

We are conducting a pest risk analysis for khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium).

Pest risk analysis

We are doing a pest specific risk analysis on khapra beetle. When we do this, we:

• review the science on khapra beetle
• assess pathways for the potential entry of khapra beetle into Australia
• review and evaluate the introduced emergency measures (also called ‘urgent actions’) for khapra beetle
• propose the maintenance of the emergency measures or propose new measures where appropriate
• publish the draft report
• consult the public on the draft report and then review comments
• publish the final report
• update import conditions on BICON.

About the pest risk analysis

Khapra beetle is not present in Australia and poses a major threat to Australia’s grains, rice and nut industries as a serious storage pest and potential impacts on international trade. It’s our second highest ranked National Priority Plant Pest (2019) and the highest ranked pest for our grains industry. Khapra beetle destroys grain quality making it unfit for human or animal consumption.

After observing an increase in khapra beetle interceptions during 2020, the department  implemented emergency measures (also termed urgent actions). These measures remain in place today.

We initiated this pest risk analysis to assess the risk of khapra beetle, and to determine whether the emergency measures manage the biosecurity risk to achieve Australia’s Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP). The emergency measures will remain in place until the pest risk analysis is finalised and any recommended ongoing phytosanitary measures are implemented.

In August 2025, we announced that we will undertake the khapra beetle pest risk analysis in 2 parts. Part 1 will focus on the plant product pathway, and Part 2 on the sea container pathway.

We are taking this approach because:

• the biosecurity risks and emergency measures differ between the 2 pathways
• the risks assessments, evaluation of the efficacy of existing emergency measures and proposed ongoing risk management measures need to be conducted separately for the 2 pathways
• Australia and the International Plant Protection Convention have several initiatives underway targeting sea container biosecurity risks, which will influence the analysis for that pathway.

We expect this 2-part approach will be more logical, efficient, and easier for stakeholders to review and provide feedback on.

We anticipate releasing a draft report for Part 1 in late 2025, with Part 2 to follow in the first half of 2026. Note that this timeline is indicative and may be subject to change.

Announcement

More information about this risk analysis is available in the Announcement Information Paper.

Download Announcement Information Paper

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, July 2022.

Next steps

We will:

1. review the science on khapra beetle and other Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern to Australia that are associated with stored plant products
2. assess pathways for the potential entry of khapra beetle into Australia
3. review and evaluate the introduced emergency measures
4. confirm the maintenance of emergency measures as ongoing measures or recommend revised and/or additional risk management measures where appropriate
5. develop a draft report for the plant product pathway (Part 1) for a 60 day public consultation period in late 2025*.
6. a draft report for the sea container pathway (Part 2) and release it for a 60 day public consultation period in the first half of 2026*.

*Please note that this is an indicative timeline and may be subject to change.

Keep informed

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Contact us

For more information, email imports or phone 1800 900 090 (when prompted, select option 1, option 1).