Notification of emergency measures for Khapra beetle.

Notification to trading partners, that within the next two months Australia proposes to implement emergency measures to high risk plant products that are hosts of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) to safeguard Australia against the entry, establishment and spread of this pest.The emergency measures for high risk plant products will be implemented in a number of phases and include (but are not limited to):
Prohibiting high risk plant products, from being brought in through non-commercial pathways i.e. luggage, mail and unaccompanied personal effects from all countries Introducing mandatory offshore treatment of high risk plant products from countries determined to pose an unacceptable khapra beetle risk.
>III. Extending phytosanitary certification to all high risk plant products verifying freedom from species of TrogodermaProhibiting high risk plant products from being brought in through the unaccompanied personal effects pathway (phase 1) is expected to be implemented in August 2020. Addendums to this SPS notification will be published to notify the implementation date for phase 1; and to notify the measures and implementation dates for subsequent phases. Specific details regarding the measures will be outlined in the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) on the Australia's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website prior to the implementation date.Additional measures for lower risk plant products are also being considered and may include extending phytosanitary certification to include verification of freedom from species of Trogoderma. Additional measures to manage the hitchhiking risk of khapra beetle in containers are being considered which may include treatments of containers prior to loading of goods; and treatment of empty containers.

To assist with the implementation, Australia is requesting countries for relevant information consistent with ISPM 8 on the status of T. granarium in their territories. This notification provides an opportunity for Australia's trading partners to provide any information on the status of T. granarium in their countries, and to identify evidence to support their response.