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
• confirm the maintenance of the emergency measures or recommend reviews or 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.

A number of countries, including Australia, have seen a recent increase in khapra interceptions. To reduce the risk of khapra beetle entering Australia, we implemented emergency measures (also termed urgent actions) in September 2020.

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 completed and any recommended ongoing phytosanitary measures are implemented.

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

We will then release the draft report for a 60 calendar day public consultation period. We plan to release the draft report for public consultation in early 2023. 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).