Updated Biosecurity Measures Against Khapra Beetle
The Department of Agriculture is implementing urgent actions to address the risk khapra beetle on a range of plant products that are host of the pest, and as a hitchhiking pest in sea containers.
Khapra Beetle poses a significant risk to Australia's plant product & grain industries with the ability to survive in sea containers for years at a time due to their small size and ability to inhabit in crevices in containers. When conditions are favorable beetle populations can quickly increase in size and can contaminate any goods held within the container
The actions that will be implemented by the Department of Agriculture will be rolled out in phases beginning from 12th JULY 2021.
We have provided a detailed outline of the measures that will take place. All containers departing high risk countries on or after 12th July 2021 that will be unpacked in a rural grain growing area of Australia must be treated offshore (prior to packing & accompanied by a valid treatment certificate.
Effective 12th July 2021, offshore treatment requirements will be mandatory from the following High Risk Countries:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, (Ivory Coast), Cyprus, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, India, Iran, Islamic Republic of
Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
The offshore treatment requirements will now not only include plant products (introduced on 12th April 2021) but will now affect any other products that are intended to be unpacked in rural grain growing areas of Australia.
You can find a list of 'Rural Grain Growing Postcodes' here for your reference.
Treatment must be completed by an approved treatment provider at origin.
Treatment options include: Methyl Bromide, Heat Treatment & Insecticide Spray.
As mentioned above, treatment must be completed prior to loading goods into the container, unless methyl bromide treatment is utilized.
More information on this topic can be found on the Department of Agriculture's website:
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/plant/khapra-beetle/sea-container-measures
Our teams locally & at origin will be briefed on the requirements and will be capable to arrange fumigation on your behalf.