Notification of emergency measures for Khapra beetle

As notified in G/SPS/N/AUS/502/Add.19, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is implementing changes to its requirements for pre-border khapra beetle treatments and phytosanitary certification. The changes will take effect on 28 May 2025. There will be three key changes:Revised wording for gas permeable packaging additional declarationsThe wording of the existing additional declarations on the phytosanitary certificate to certify compliance with gas-permeability requirements will be changed to: For methyl bromide fumigations: “The goods were fumigated in gas permeable packaging.”
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“The goods were fumigated prior to being sealed in gas impermeable packaging.”For controlled atmosphere treatments:“The goods were treated in gas permeable packaging.”
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“The goods were treated prior to being sealed in gas impermeable packaging.”This requirement will apply to high-risk plant products exported from khapra beetle target-risk countries that are treated offshore with methyl bromide fumigation or controlled atmosphere treatment to manage the risk of khapra beetle.2. New NPPO supervision requirement and additional declaration for certain providersMandatory supervision by the exporting countries National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) will be required for any pre-border khapra beetle methyl bromide or heat treatments undertaken by treatment providers that are listed as:Suspended, Under Review, or Withdrawn on Australia’s list of registered treatment providersUnacceptable or Under Review on Australia’s list of unregistered treatment providersNote: This requirement applies to khapra beetle treatments of both plant products and shipping containers.The phytosanitary certificate accompanying these consignments must contain the following new additional declaration to certify compliance with the requirement:For methyl bromide fumigations: “Themonitoring of start and end point concentration readings were conducted under direct NPPO supervision, and the treatment was performed in accordance with Australia’s methyl bromide fumigation methodology as per theattached methyl bromide fumigation certificate [insert certificate number].”For heat treatments: “The temperature sensors were placed under direct NPPO supervision, and the treatment was performed in accordance with Australia’s heat treatment methodology as per the attached heat treatment certificate [insert certificate number].”3. Removal of the fourth concentration sampling tube for container fumigation treatmentsMethyl bromide fumigation treatments of sea containers to manage the risk of khapra beetle currently require a fourth concentration sampling tube positioned underneath the container. Following a review of the effectiveness of the fourth sampling tube, this requirement is being removed. This change will align khapra beetle fumigations with standard fumigation practices where a minimum of three concentration sampling tubes will be required in accordance with Australia’s Methyl bromide fumigation methodologyWhen the changes will commence:These revised requirements will come into effect on 28 May 2025. They will apply only to consignments where the phytosanitary certificate is issued on or after 28 May 2025, regardless of the date the consignment arrived in Australia.For any phytosanitary certification issued before 28 May 2025, the current measures will continue to apply.A transitional period will be provided to facilitate compliance. During this period, treatments that meet the old requirements will still be accepted. Once the transitional period ends, all pre-border khapra beetle treatments and associated phytosanitary certificates must comply with the updated requirements. The dates for the transitional period are yet to be finalised but will be published on our website once confirmed.Virtual information sessionsWe are holding two online information sessions to outline the key changes, expected impacts and compliance requirements. There will be two separate information sessions held. National Plant Protection Organizations and offshore treatment providers are invited to attend Session 1. Session 2 is intended for Australian importers and brokers. Session 1 will take place on Thursday 15 May 2025, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm (AEST). It will be held online via Microsoft Teams Live EventThis is a free event. To attend, please visit our Humanitix webpage and click on the 'Get Tickets' button, and register for Session 1Further informationPlease refer to our webpages and factsheet for further information on these changes: Webpage 1: Measures for plant products under the khapra beetle urgent actionsWebpage 2: Measures for sea containers under the khapra beetle urgent actionsFactsheetUpcoming changes to treatment and certification requirements