Alerts

The purpose of this notification is to advise stakeholders of upcoming changes to add irradiated medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed products to the exclusions in the list of other-risk plant products (including mode of arrival and end use) for hosts of khapra beetle. This will remove the requirement for a phytosanitary certificate for irradiated medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed.

From Monday 3rd April 2023, imported irradiated medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed will be added to the exclusion list in the list of other-risk plant products (including mode of arrival and end use) for hosts of khapra beetle.

The requirements for other-risk plant products to protect against khapra beetle (Phase 4) apply to products in the list of other-risk plant products (including mode of arrival and end use) for hosts of khapra beetle, which includes medicinal cannabis. The Phase 4 requirements require that other-risk plant products be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that includes the following 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”.

The department has recently completed assessment of the khapra beetle risk associated with the import of irradiated medicinal cannabis products and deemed that appropriate level of protection (ALOP) can be achieved through irradiation treatment. The department will add irradiated medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed to the exclusions in the list of other-risk plant products (including mode of arrival and end use) for hosts of khapra beetle. This will remove the requirement for a phytosanitary certificate including the additional declaration for irradiated medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed.

The import conditions for irradiated medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed will include a requirement for a treatment certificate to be presented indicating the medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed have been treated by irradiation at a dosage of 1kGy or higher.

Key points:

• Effective Monday 3rd April 2023, irradiated medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed will become exempt from the requirements for other-risk plant products to protect against khapra beetle (Phase 4).
• This change removes the requirement for irradiated medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed products to be accompanied with 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”.

Who does this affect:
Importers (and their customs brokers) of irradiated medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed products and department staff.

Background:
The list of other-risk plant products (including mode of arrival and end use) for hosts of khapra beetle already excludes several highly refined, commercially prepared and packaged plant products. Given the efficacy of irradiation treatment the department can exclude irradiated medicinal cannabis plant parts other than seed from the requirements for other-risk plant products to protect against khapra beetle (Phase 4) while continuing to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection.

Further information:
Please contact Plant Import Operations on 1800 900 090 (option 1, option 1) or email imports@agriculture.gov.au (with the subject line of the email ‘Plant T2’).