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The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment has announced the implementation of urgent actions in multiple phases to protect Australia from the entry of the khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium, which will affect the entry of plant products and sea containers into Australia.
The first six (6) phases have been implemented since 3 September 2020. Due to changes in khapra beetle risk patterns, the numbering of these phases does not correspond to the order in which they were implemented.
|
Phase |
Measure |
Implementation Date |
|
Phase 1 |
Ban on high-risk plant products, e.g. rice, within unaccompanied personal effects & low value freight.
|
3 September 2020 |
|
Phase 2 |
Ban on high-risk plant products, e.g. rice, being brought in with international travellers or in mail parcels and packages.
|
15 October 2020 |
|
Phase 6A |
Offshore treatment of containers carrying high-risk plant products, e.g. rice, packed into a container in a country that has khapra beetle. |
12 April 2021 |
|
Phase 6A (continued) |
Offshore treatment of containers carrying products other than high-risk plant products, packed into a container in a country that has khapra beetle & then unpacked in a rural grain growing area in Australia. |
12 July 2021 |
|
Phase 3 |
Offshore treatment and phytosanitary certificate requirements for commercial imports of high-risk plant products, e.g. rice. |
30 September 2021 |
|
Phase 6A (extended) |
Offshore treatment of containers carrying products other than high-risk plant products, packed into a container in a country that has khapra beetle and then unpacked in a rural nut growing area in Australia. |
15 December 2021 |
On 28 April 2022, Phases 4 and 5 will be implemented for other risk plant products and seeds for sowing from all countries where the following will required:
- Inspected offshore by a government official of the exporting country (phase 4); and
- Introduction of phytosanitary certificates for imports of seeds that are to be used for sowing. (Phase 5)
|
Phase |
Measure |
|
Phase 4 |
Revised phytosanitary certificate requirements for imports of other risk plant products, e.g. spices.
|
|
Phase 5 |
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 last phase (6B) is expected to commence in late 2022 which will impose new requirements for containers that have held high-risk plant products.
Failure to comply with the above requirements may result in the re-export of the goods upon-arrival in Australia. Philippine exporters to Australia are strongly advised by the DTI to work closely with their importers to ensure compliance to the new measure. Philippine exporters can visit the following websites for more information:
Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON)
For questions and clarifications, you may contact the DTI Export Marketing Bureau, Market Innovation Division at mid@dti.gov.ph and/or the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Sydney at Sydney@dti.gov.ph.