Australia works hard to protect its agriculture, unique environment, and economy through a very strict biosecurity system. One of the biggest threats to this system is the Khapra, one of the most destructive pests that can infest stored grain.
If you’re an Australian importer, it’s really important to understand the risks this beetle poses and what measures you have to follow to stay compliant.
What is the Khapra Beetle?
The Khapra Beetle (Trogoderma granarium) is a pest that poses a major biosecurity risk to Australian grains, feeding directly on stored grain and dry foodstuffs. It can cause an extreme amount of damage to products themselves, whilst also infesting goods with larval skins and hairs that are difficult to remove from transport vessels.
Certain commodities are more likely to be infested with Khapra Beetle. These include:
- Stored grains like wheat, rice, maize, and barley.
- Nuts.
- Dried fruits.
- Seeds, especially cucurbits and rice.
- Spices.
- Dried vegetables.
Be careful that you don’t confuse the Khapra Beetle with the warehouse beetle (Trogoderma variabile) and the native Trogoderma species.
How can the Khapra Beetle enter Australia?
The Beetle typically enters Australia by hitchhiking on shipping containers and cargo, much like the infamous stink bug. The beetle may enter through infesting goods, like grains and foodstuffs (including wheat, barley, rice, sesame, cotton and more).
These pests tend to hide in cracks and crevices within shipping containers and can remain undetected for years. Their population tends to increase rapidly when the conditions are in their favour, leading to further contamination of goods.
Target Risk Countries
Reports show that Khapra Beetle has been detected from more than 43 countries, but the majority of interceptions were from India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran. While DAWE’s import conditions apply to goods from all countries, the rules are stricter for goods and containers from countries where the Khapra Beetle is known to occur.
- Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.
- Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
- Europe: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine.
- Americas: Occasional detections due to indirect shipping routes, though established populations are not common.
- Oceania: New Zealand has recorded interceptions without established populations.
What measures are in place to protect Australia from this pest?
Australia’s National Khapra Beetle Action Plan (2021–2031).
Australia has developed a detailed and proactive plan to manage the risk posed by the Khapra beetle, emphasizing thorough prevention strategies, innovative detection methods, and prompt response systems to safeguard the nation’s agriculture and trade.
Prevention Measures
To prevent the Khapra beetle from entering Australia, strict container hygiene practices have been enforced. All containers coming from identified high-risk regions are required to undergo mandatory offshore treatments. In addition to this, comprehensive inspections of containers have been enhanced significantly. There is a prohibition on importing specific high-risk products, particularly those entering through personal shipments, international mail, and low-value freight shipments, as these pathways have been particularly vulnerable in past detections.
Australia also runs a dedicated Cargo Compliance Verification Program, which involves routine inspections even of shipments that were previously considered low-risk. This proactive approach helps catch any potential threats early, before they can become a significant problem. Moreover, Australia continuously collaborates internationally, actively engaging with global partners to share knowledge, intelligence, and effective strategies for managing and reducing phytosanitary risks worldwide.
Advanced Detection Techniques
The detection of Khapra beetles has significantly improved through the use of advanced molecular diagnostic techniques, such as PCR-based testing, which allows for rapid and highly accurate identification. In addition, Australia is pioneering the world’s first environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys specifically targeting shipping containers. This innovative method helps detect Khapra beetle traces early, significantly enhancing the likelihood of catching infestations before they spread.
Focused surveillance operations occur at critical entry points such as ports, warehouses, and specialized import facilities, where the risk of Khapra beetle introductions is particularly high. These targeted inspections ensure any potential infestations are swiftly detected and managed.
Effective Response Strategies
When Khapra beetles are detected, Australia employs highly effective and swift response measures. These involve robust tracing systems that meticulously track the movement of potentially infested containers and goods to quickly contain and eliminate any risk.
The latest eradication methods include heat treatments, targeted applications of the insecticide deltamethrin, and the use of environmentally safe fumigants that provide reliable alternatives to older treatments like methyl bromide. Specialized Incident Management Teams are mobilized immediately upon detection to implement these response strategies efficiently and prevent the beetle from establishing itself within Australia.
Since 2020, there has been a consistent decrease in the number of Khapra Beetle detections.
Mandatory Measures For Australian Importers
As an importer, your role is crucial in protecting Australia from the Khapra beetle. Not only can an infestation ruin your cargo, but a Department of Agriculture interception can lead to significant downtime, costly investigations, and even the temporary shutdown of your operations while your facilities are treated.
Spot the Signs
One of the first things you should do is know what to look for. Regular inspections of stored products, container floors, cracks, and packaging materials can help detect early signs of the Khapra beetle. Look for larvae, larval skins, or any visible damage. These beetles tend to hide in tight spaces like cracks, crevices, and under bags, and they’re especially attracted to grain residues. Spotting these signs early can make a big difference.
Practice Good Hygiene
Good hygiene is another critical factor. Keep storage and container areas clean and well-maintained to reduce the chances of infestation. Seal any gaps or cracks that might give pests a place to hide, and remove any leftover grains or food residues as soon as you find them. Consistent cleanliness and pest-proofing practices can significantly lower your risk.
Container Cleanliness
Container cleanliness is equally important. Before the container leaves its port of origin, double-check that it’s been properly cleaned. Keep records of all cleanliness checks—these will be necessary both before shipping and when the container reaches Australia. This documentation not only helps you comply with regulations but also serves as a safeguard if your cargo is ever inspected.
High-Risk Products
Importers must also pay close attention to high-risk products like grains, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, and spices. These products are more susceptible to infestation, so staying informed about current import conditions from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is essential. Policies and requirements can change, and it’s your responsibility to stay updated.
Reporting Contamination
If you suspect contamination or see any signs of pests, don’t wait. Immediately report it to DAFF. Timely reporting is not only a regulatory obligation—it’s a key part of stopping the beetle from spreading further and causing more damage.
Record-Keeping
Maintaining strong record-keeping habits is your best line of defense. Keep thorough and organized records of all container treatment certifications, cleanliness inspections, audit histories, and any contamination events along with your responses. These records aren’t just for compliance—they’re also crucial in the event that a trace-back investigation is needed.
DAFF Audits and Inspections
DAFF regularly conducts audits and inspections to ensure importers are following procedures correctly. Be prepared for these audits by keeping all your paperwork organized and ready to present. A streamlined audit process benefits both you and the authorities.
Container Treatments
All full Container Load/Full Container Consolidated (FCL/FCX) sea containers packed in a Khapra Beetle target risk country, when they are packed with high-risk plant products, or will be unpacked in a rural Khapra risk postcode of Australia, must be treated offshore.
- Treatments must be performed by an Australian government-approved treatment provider and can be heat treatment, methyl bromide fumigation, or approved insecticide sprays such as deltamethrin, and
- The container must be treated prior to packing (except if using methyl bromide fumigation, in which case the container can be treated when empty or when packed), and
- treated within 21 days prior to export, and
- accompanied by appropriate treatment certification, as you’ll need to present them upon arrival in Australia.
The target of these treatments is the container and not the goods/commodity being shipped within the container. However, the goods may also need to be treated offshore.
ISO tanks, reefers (including non-operational), flat racks, LCL/FAKs and containers imported as empties are excluded from these requirements.
Note that if you do not comply with the above requirements, your container and/or goods may be reexported once it arrives in Australia.
Your container may need a sealing declaration
In some circumstances, your container may require sealing declaration to prove that khapra measures do not apply to your container or to prove it has been treated within 21 days prior to export.
Ensure you use the sealing declaration template.
It also may need an import declaration
Australian authorities will seek an import declaration where the goods delivery address indicates a rural khapra risk area but nil khapra concerns have been identified by a broker or where import declarations are amended to a metropolitan or rural non-khapra risk area.
The importer declaration will verify:
- the unpack location of the sea container
- that the goods will be fully unpacked from the non-compliant sea container in a metro location and will not be repacked into the same container for final delivery.
Ensure you use this importer declaration template for compliance.
*Changes for consignments with phytosanitary certificates issued on or after 28 May 2025
From 28 May 2025, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will implement key changes to the requirements for pre-border Khapra Beetle treatments and phytosanitary certification.
Here’s a breakdown of these changes:
Revised wording for gas permeable packaging additional declarations:
The department will update the wording of the additional declarations on the phytosanitary certificate to certify compliance with gas-permeability requirements.
The new wording will be: “The goods were fumigated in gas permeable packaging.” OR “The goods were fumigated prior to being sealed in gas impermeable packaging.”
This change applies to high-risk plant products exported from Khapra Beetle target-risk countries that undergo offshore treatment with methyl bromide fumigation or controlled atmosphere treatment.
New NPPO supervision requirement and additional declaration for certain providers:
The department will require mandatory supervision by the relevant exporting National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) for pre-border Khapra Beetle methyl bromide or heat treatments undertaken by providers that are Suspended, Under Review, or Withdrawn on Australia’s list of registered treatment providers or Unacceptable or Under Review on Australia’s list of unregistered treatment providers.
The phytosanitary certificate accompanying these consignments must contain a new additional declaration to certify compliance:
For methyl bromide fumigations: “The monitoring 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 the attached 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].”
Removal of fourth concentration sampling tube for container fumigation treatments:
The department is removing the requirement for a fourth concentration sampling tube positioned underneath the container during methyl bromide fumigation treatments of sea containers.
This change aligns Khapra Beetle fumigations with standard practices, where a minimum of three concentration sampling tubes will require.
From 28 May 2025, the department will offer a transition period of at least 10 weeks to assist importers in adapting to the new requirements. During this time, the department will collaborate with affected importers to ensure they meet all compliance standards. The precise end date of this transition period will be communicated by the department at a later time and published in BICON.
On 28 May 2025, the department will also update import permits to incorporate these changes and will contact affected import permit holders to revise their permits. The department will not impose any fees for these permit revisions.
Case study: Contaminated cargo in Australia
Refrigerators
In August 2020, the Khapra Beetle was discovered to have infested a number of refrigerators in Australia.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment revealed that it was managing the discovery of beetles in imported containers and cargo. According to the Department, their interceptions of the cargo “occurred in imported non-food goods, such as refrigerators, car parts, nuts and bolts, as well as empty containers and high-risk food goods such as spices and flour.”
Three customers had purchased a fridge from The Good Guys, only to find them crawling with beetles. As a result, three of their stores were closed. The Department of Primary Industries announced that they would be undertaking “urgent measures” including stricter import conditions for goods at high risk.
Baby highchairs
In December 2020, the Department again announced that they were managing the detection of Khapra Beetle in a contaminated import of baby highchairs.
A container containing Khapra Beetles had been intercepted by the Department in a shipment by Baby Bunting, an infant products retailer. The company, upon discovering the infestation, closed its Dandenong South distribution centre while it was being treated and inspected.
At the time of the discovery, 260 highchairs had already been sold, so Babby Bunting began to contact those customers between 9 September and 28 October 2020 to offer replacement goods.
The Khapra Beetle clearly remains a threat to Australian shores and is currently listed as number two on the country’s list of National Priority Plant Pests.
Questions? Our Expert Customs Brokers Can Help!
If you’ve got any queries about the Khapra Beetle and how to protect your cargo from a potential infestation, including any questions about the new urgent measures, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
One of our expert consultants can provide tailored advice to enhance the security and well-being of your cargo.
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