95-2021: Revised schedule and update on implementation of the urgent actions for khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium)

14 May 2021

Who does this notice affect?

Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal shipping agents, and any other operators in the sea container supply and logistics chain or in plant import industries.

What has changed?

As you would be aware, we are implementing urgent actions to reduce the likelihood of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) entering Australia. The urgent actions are being implemented in 6 phases. Phases 1 to 5 address the risk of khapra beetle entering on imported plants and plant products. Phase 6 addresses the risk of khapra beetle entering as a hitchhiker pest in sea containers.

We have released a revised implementation schedule for the urgent actions (see below).

Urgent action phase	Implementation date
Phase 1: Ban on high-risk plant products within UPEs and low value freight	Commenced 3 September 2020 See: IAN 134-2020.
Phase 2: Ban on high-risk plant products within accompanied baggage or via international travellers or mail articles.	Commenced 15 October 2020 See: IAN 172-2020.
Phase 3: Revised phytosanitary certification and new offshore treatment requirements for high-risk plant products via all commercial pathways	Expected to commence in August 2021
Phase 4: Revised phytosanitary certification and new offshore treatment requirements for other risk plant products	Progression of this work is on hold
Phase 5: Phytosanitary certification requirements for all seeds for sowing	Progression of this work is on hold
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. See: IAN 61-2021. Measures for target risk containers that are packed with other products and will be unpacked in a rural grain growing area will commence on 12 July 2021 (i.e. for containers exported on or after this date).
Phase 6B: New measures for high-risk sea containers	Expected to commence in late 2021

Alternative treatment options for Phase 3

We recognise that heat treatment or methyl bromide fumigation may not be feasible for some goods imported under Phase 3. As such, we are considering alternative treatment options for goods impacted by Phase 3. We are engaging with peak industry bodies on alternative treatment options. Additional information on any alternatives identified will be published on our website closer to implementation.

Implementation of Phase 6A

We recognise that some of the treatment requirements implemented under Phase 6A may be new to industry. As such, where a treatment certificate is provided with the sea container but does not meet all our requirements as detailed on our website, we will work with treatment providers to improve their understanding of these requirements and where appropriate, facilitate the import of goods within impacted containers. This temporary arrangement will be in place only until 9 July 2021.

Additionally, as the Phase 6A measures for containers being unpacked in rural grain growing areas are being incorporated into the non-commodity information requirements policy and Class 19.1 (NCCC) approved arrangement, the Class 19.1 requirements and conditions policy will be updated. Below are some key dates to note.

Date	Event
7 June 2021	A notice of intent to vary the NCCC approved arrangement will be sent.
10 June 2021	Mandatory Continued Biosecurity Competency (CBC) webinar, relevant to the changes, is scheduled. Information and registration details regarding the webinar will be published closer to the event on the Automatic Entry Processing and Training and accreditation for approved arrangements webpages.
12 July 2021	The updated version of the Class 19.1 requirements and conditions policy will be published on the Requirements for operating approved arrangements webpage.

ICS AEI capacity issue

We recently contacted Class 19.1 Approved Arrangement holders to notify them of a temporary Integrated Cargo System (ICS) capacity issue. The issue prevented customs brokers who utilise the Custom Connect Facilities (CCF) to interface with the ICS for FID lodgement from viewing all available AEIs (Entity Identifiers).

This issue has now been resolved. Accordingly, ICS-CCF users should now have full access to the AEI list and follow standard AEI reporting requirements. Further information on these requirements is detailed on our website.

Further information

For further information, see:

For all enquiries regarding these measures, please phone 1800 900 090 or email imports@aff.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Plant Tier 2 – khapra urgent actions’).