Urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium)
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.
The department is implementing urgent actions to address the risk of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) on a range of plant products that are hosts of this pest. These urgent actions are being implemented in phases.
Khapra beetle and its risk to Australia
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.
The global spread of khapra beetle is increasing and it is being detected on a wide range of plant products and as a hitchhiker pest in shipping containers. If khapra beetle enters Australia it would have significant economic consequences. An outbreak could cost Australia $15.5 billion over 20 years through revenue losses arising from damaged grain in storage and exports.
More information on khapra beetle, including how to identify it, can be found in the khapra beetle pest bulletin.
Urgent actions
The urgent actions are being implemented in a number of phases as outlined in the summary table below.
| 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 mail | Expected to commence in mid-October 2020 |
| Phase 3: Revised phytosanitary certification and new offshore treatment requirements for high-risk plant products via all commercial pathways |
Expected to commence in late 2020 |
| Phase 4: Revised phytosanitary certification and new offshore treatment requirements for other risk plant products | Expected to commence in late 2020 (likely to be post October 2020) |
| Phase 5: Phytosanitary certification requirements for all seeds for sowing | Expected to commence in late 2020 (likely to be post October 2020) |
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Phase 1: Ban on high-risk plant products within UPEs and low value freight
Phase 1 of the urgent actions commenced on 3 September 2020. As of this date, high-risk plant products from all countries are not permitted entry into Australia within:
- unaccompanied personal effects (UPEs) or
- low value (less than $1,000) air and sea freight (lodged through self-assessed clearance (SAC)).
This ban does not apply to goods imported as commercial trade samples or for research purposes.
Goods arriving for commercial use or for research purposes within low value freight must be for commercial use by an Australian company or business or for research purposes only. They will be required to be:
- accompanied by a Supplier’s declaration, Manufacturer’s declaration, Commercial invoice or Importer declaration with evidence that the goods have been imported by an Australian company or business or
- a statement that the consignment is intendent for research purposes.
Failure to comply with these requirements will result in export or destruction of the goods upon arrival in Australia.
Phase 2: Ban on high-risk plant products within accompanied baggage or via mail
Phase 2 is expected to commence in mid-October 2020. In this phase, the ban on high-risk plant products will be extended to travellers with accompanied baggage and via a mail postal service.
This means that high-risk plant products from all countries will not be permitted entry into Australia within:
- baggage carried by international travellers (accompanied baggage) or
- mail items (including items posted using Express Mail Service).
Phase 3: Revised phytosanitary certification and new offshore treatment requirements for high-risk plant products via all commercial pathways
Phase 3 is expected to commence in late 2020 and will introduce requirements for high-risk plant products imported via commercial pathways, excluding seeds for sowing. We will consider transitional arrangements to accommodate consignments in transit closer to the implementation.
These requirements will differ depending on the country of origin or export. We are engaging with trading partners to ensure they are aware of their requirements under these changes.
Target-risk country of origin or export
High-risk plant products from target-risk countries sent via all modes of arrival (except those banned in Phases 1 and 2) will be required to be:
- treated offshore using an approved treatment option
AND
- inspected and certified by government officials of the exporting country on a phytosanitary certificate that includes Additional Declaration A.
Other risk country of origin or export
High-risk plant products from all other countries sent via all modes of arrival (except those banned in Phases 1 and 2) will be required to meet one of the following options:
- Option 1 - Inspected and certified by government officials of the exporting country on a phytosanitary certificate that includes Additional Declaration B.
OR
- Option 2 - Treated offshore using an approved treatment option
AND
- Inspected and certified by government officials of the exporting country on a phytosanitary certificate that includes Additional Declaration A.
Phase 4: Revised phytosanitary certification and new offshore treatment requirements for other risk plant products
Phase 4 is expected to commence in late 2020 and will introduce requirements for other risk plant products (excludes seed for sowing). We will consider transitional arrangements to accommodate consignments in transit closer to the implementation.
These requirements will differ depending on the country of origin or export. We are engaging with trading partners to ensure they are aware of their requirements under these changes.
Target-risk country of origin or export
Other risk plant products from target-risk countries sent via all modes of arrival will be required to meet one of the following options:
- Option 1 - Inspected and certified by government officials of the exporting country on a phytosanitary certificate that includes Additional Declaration B.
OR
- Option 2 - Treated offshore using an approved treatment option
AND
- Inspected and certified by government officials of the exporting country on a phytosanitary certificate that includes Additional Declaration A.
Other risk country of origin or export
Other risk plant products from all other countries sent via all modes of arrival will be required to be inspected and certified by government officials of the exporting country on a phytosanitary certificate. The certification must include Additional Declaration B.
Phase 5: Phytosanitary certification requirements for all seeds for sowing
Phase 5 is expected to commence in late 2020. We will consider transitional arrangements to accommodate consignments in transit closer to the implementation.
It will require all imported seeds for sowing from all countries via commercial pathways to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that includes Additional Declaration B.
We are engaging with trading partners to ensure they are aware of their requirements under these changes.
Treatment options and rates
In cases where treatment is required (refer to urgent actions), one of the below approved treatment options must be used.
Methyl Bromide Fumigation
The goods must be fumigated with a dose of 80 g/m³ or above, at 21°C or above for a minimum of 48 hours. The fumigation must be conducted in accordance with the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology, including end-point retention and dose compensation requirements.
Heat Treatment
The goods must be heat treated at 60°C or higher (measured at the core of the goods) for a minimum of 120 minutes. The treatment must be conducted in accordance with the Heat Treatment Methodology.
Phytosanitary declarations
In cases where phytosanitary certification is required (refer to urgent actions), the phytosanitary certificate will need to include one of the below additional declarations.
Additional declaration A
The goods were treated with one of the following:
- Methyl bromide fumigation (dose of 80 g/m3 or above, at 21°C or above for a minimum of 48 hours) in accordance with Department’s methyl bromide fumigation methodology OR
- Heat treatment (for a minimum of 120 minutes at 60°C or higher, measured at the core of the goods) in accordance with the Department’s heat treatment methodology
AND
Following treatment, representative samples from the consignment for export to Australia have been drawn and visually inspected in accordance with official procedures and determined to be free from all live species of Trogoderma
Additional declaration B
Representative samples from the consignment for export to Australia have been drawn and visually inspected in accordance with official procedures and determined to be free from all evidence of species of Trogoderma (live, dead and exuviae)
High-risk plant products
The urgent actions for Phases 1-3 apply to the following plant products (in various raw and processed forms), which have been identified as high-risk.
High-risk plant products
- Rice (Oryza sativa)
- Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)
- Cucurbit seed (Cucurbita, Cucumis, Citrullus spp.)
- Cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum)
- Safflower seed (Carthamus tinctorius)
- Bean seed (Phaseolus spp.)
- Soybean (Glycine max)
- Mung beans, cowpeas (Vigna spp.)
- Lentils (Lens culinaris)
- Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
- Coriander seed (Coriandrum sativum)
- Celery seed (Apium graveolens)
- Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)
- Dried chillies/capsicum (Capsicum spp.)
- Faba bean (Vicia faba)
- Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan)
- Pea seed (Pisum sativum)
- Fennel seed (Foeniculum spp).
The following exclusions apply: goods that are thermally processed that are commercially manufactured and packaged such as retorted, blanched, roasted, fried, boiled, puffed, malted or pasteurised goods, fresh vegetables and commercially manufactured frozen food and frozen plant products or oils derived from vegetables or seed.
Other risk plant products
The urgent actions for Phase 4 apply to the following products (in various raw and physically-processed forms), which have been identified as other risk plant products.
Other risk plant products
- Seeds (all species, excluding those listed as high-risk plant products)
- Spices (all species, excluding those listed in high-risk plant products)
- Plant gums and resins (except those chemically extracted or highly processed)
- Meals and flours of plant origin (all species, excluding those listed in high-risk plant products)
- Dried fruits
- Nuts (all species, excluding those listed in high-risk plant products)
- Dried vegetables
- Unprocessed plant products (excluding fresh fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, herbarium specimens, fresh cut flowers)
The following exclusions apply: goods that are thermally processed that are commercially manufactured and packaged such as retorted, blanched, roasted, fried, boiled, puffed, malted or pasteurised goods, fresh vegetables and commercially manufactured frozen food and frozen plant products or oils derived from vegetables or seed.
Further information
If you:
- want to import plant products into Australia, it is important that you check BICON
- want to receive updates on the implementation of the urgent actions register to receive BICON alerts and IANs
- have any further questions you can contact us on 1800 900 090 or via email imports@agriculture.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Plant Tier 2 – Khapra urgent actions’).