Update to Sea Container Measures to Protect against Khapra Beetle

Monday, March 29, 2021

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) wish to advise that the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has issued an updated Industry Advice Notice 48-2021 dealing with the measures to be taken on sea containers to protect Australia against Khapra Beetle.
 

What has changed?

As notified in IAN 34-2021, Phase 6A of the khapra beetle urgent actions will commence from 12 April 2021. Phase 6A will introduce mandatory offshore treatment requirements for target risk sea containers.

To assist in preparing stakeholders for these changes we have updated our sea container web page to include the following additional information;

  • Additional treatment rate options for methyl bromide fumigation
  • summary flowchart of the Phase 6A measures
  • Posters on sea container cleanliness and the risk of khapra beetle in sea containers
  • Infographics summarising the methyl bromide, heat and insecticide treatment requirements.

These updates can be found at: awe.gov.au/khapra-containers.




   



Insecticide Treatment Methodology

To ensure the Insecticide Treatment Methodology is practical and fit for purpose, we are releasing a draft methodology for public consultation.

We recognise the commencement date of 12 April 2021 is fast approaching and the importance of providing you with the final version of the methodology so that it can be incorporated into your supply chain. As such, we are requesting that you review the draft methodology and provide any feedback to Offshoretreatments@agriculture.gov.au by COB 31 March 2021.

You can also provide feedback on the methodology at our Insecticide Treatment Information Session on 31 March 2021. Register for this session at: Information sessions: Khapra beetle container treatment requirements.

All feedback received will be considered in the development of the final version of the methodology. We expect to publish the final version of the methodology on 7 April 2021.

Whilst we are releasing a draft of the Insecticide Treatment Methodology for a public consultation period, we will also consider feedback from stakeholders at any time, even after the methodology is finalised.

Further information

For further information, see:

For:

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

The department also advise that they will be updating this web page regularly to provide you with further guidance on the requirements.

To ensure you remain updated on these changes, we recommend registering to receive BICON alerts and Import Industry Advice Notices.
 
Members can also access the recording provided by the department at our recent CPD events -

"Biosecurity Update" (Policy) delivered by representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Water & the Environment - RECORDING