Alerts

On 28 April 2022, import conditions for seeds for sowing and a wide range of other-risk plant products exported from all countries will change. Other-risk plant products include seeds, nuts, green coffee beans, dried fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices. The complete list of in scope other-risk products (including mode of arrival, end-use and exclusions) are listed on our webpage.

Under Phase 4 of the urgent actions, other-risk plant products exported on or after 28 April 2022 from any country must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with the additional declaration:

• "Representative samples were inspected and found free from evidence of any species of Trogoderma (whether live, dead or exuviae) in Australia’s list of Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern."

Under Phase 5 of the urgent actions, seeds for sowing exported on or after 28 April 2022 from any country for all arrival modes must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with the additional declaration:

• "Representative samples were inspected and found free from evidence of any species of Trogoderma (whether live, dead or exuviae) in Australia’s list of Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern."

Note:

• If other-risk plant products are packed into a container with high-risk plant products in a khapra beetle target risk country, all goods may be treated and certified using an approved option for high-risk plant products. For more information on treatment and certification requirements, see the Phase 3 webpage.
• If the products will be packed into a Full Container Load/Full Container Consolidated sea container in a khapra beetle target risk country and will be unpacked in a rural khapra risk area of Australia, the sea container will need to be treated. See more details on the sea container webpage.

The full list of import conditions will be updated on BICON closer to implementation. Stay up to date on the implementation of these conditions by subscribing to receive Industry Advice Notices and BICON alerts.

Who does this alert affect:
Importers of other-risk plant products, seeds for sowing and other stakeholders in the import and shipping industries – including vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal shipping agents, and any other operators in the sea container supply and logistics chain.

Background:
These changes are considered necessary because:

• Khapra beetle is a significant threat to Australian plant industries, including the grain export industry. Khapra beetle destroys grain quality making it unfit for human or animal consumption.
• Other-risk plant products and seeds for sowing have been identified as hosts of khapra beetle and as such, a pathway for khapra beetle to enter Australia.
• 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.

Australia currently has biosecurity requirements in place for a range of products that could be infested with khapra beetle. However, we believe that the biosecurity requirements need to be expanded and strengthened to prevent a khapra beetle incursion.

Further information:
For further information, see:

• list of other-risk plant products (including mode of arrival and end use)
• urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium)
• sea container measures to protect against khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium)
• khapra beetle bulletin.

For:

• questions and information related directly to offshore khapra beetle treatments, please email offshoretreatments@awe.gov.au
• all other enquiries regarding these measures, please phone 1800 900 090 or email imports@awe.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Plant Tier 2 – khapra urgent actions’).