Notification of emergency measures for khapra beetle

On 4 August 2020, Australia issued a SPS notification (G/SPS/N/AUS/502) informing trading partners of its intention to implement emergency measures to safeguard Australia against the entry, establishment and spread of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium). The emergency measures are being implemented in phases and will result in changes to import conditions for plant products and sea containers. This addendum is to notify trading partners of updates to import conditions for high-risk plant products imported via all commercial pathways.

New import conditions will apply to high-risk plant products exported on or after 30 September 2021. Import conditions will differ depending on the country of export.
Note: The new import conditions do not apply to seeds for sowing and goods that are imported for research purposes coming as low value freight (less than AUD$1000).
These enhanced import conditions for high-risk khapra beetle products are in addition to measures introduced for sea containers in April 2021.
Khapra beetle target risk countries
High-risk plant products exported from khapra beetle target risk countries (https://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/arrival/pests/khapra_beetle) via sea and air freight will need to be treated offshore with an approved treatment option and inspected by a government official of the exporting country.

Approved treatment options are heat treatment, methyl bromide fumigation and modified atmosphere treatments. In addition to a treatment certificate, the goods must be treated within 21 days of export and be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate certifying treatment requirements have been met and that the goods are free from all live species of Trogoderma
Treatment and document requirements can be found on our website via: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/plant/khapra-beetle/high-risk-plant-products#phase-3-new-requirements-for-highrisk-plant-products-imported-via-all-commercial-pathways

Note: Modified atmosphere treatments are a provisional option only. As such, an import permit is required. The goods must have an import permit before they arrive in Australia
All other countriesHigh-risk plant products exported from all other countries via sea and air freight will need to be inspected by a government official of the exporting country and certified as free from evidence of any species of Trogoderma that are of concern to Australia (the list of Trogoderma species of concern can be found via https://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/plant/khapra-beetleFailure to comply with these requirements may result in the export of the container and/or goods upon arrival in Australia.

Other updatesPlease note, the Definition of high-risk plant products list on Australia's urgent actions website has been updated to exclude goods that are commercially processed to a powder, meal or flakes and packaged in bags less than or equal to 25kgs (such as cereal flours like semolina, wheat flour, chilli flakes and ground spices). This list can be viewed via: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/plant/khapra-beetle/high-risk-plant-products#definition-of-highrisk-plant-productsFurther informationInformation on the emergency measures for high-risk plant products imported via all commercial pathways can be found on our website, and will be published in the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) on 30 September 2021. 

Addendums to this SPS notification will be published to notify the measures and implementation dates for subsequent phases. Complete import conditions and details regarding the measures will be outlined in the BICON (https://bicon.agriculture.gov.au/BiconWeb4.0) alert prior to the implementation date.

For questions and information related directly to offshore khapra beetle treatments, please email offshoretreatments@agriculture.gov.au.

All other enquiries regarding these measures, please email imports@agriculture.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with "Plant Tier 2 – khapra urgent actions").