5 March 2021
Who does this notice affect?
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.
What has changed?
As notified in IAN 17-2021, 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, a specific web page outlining the sea container measures has been published. This web page can be accessed at aff.gov.au/khapra-containers.
The web page includes updated and new information on the following components of the Phase 6A measures:
- Implementation dates
- Treatment options, rates and requirements
- Approved treatment providers
- Treatment certification requirements
- February 2021 information sessions.
Please also note that while these measures will be commencing from 12 April 2021, start dates will now be staggered depending on the type of target risk container.
Note: Failure to comply with these requirements will result in export of the container upon arrival in Australia.
| Type of target risk container | Implementation date | How to comply |
|---|---|---|
| Full Container Load (FCL)/Full Container Consolidated (FCX) container where high-risk plant products are packed into the sea container in a khapra beetle target risk country. | 12 April 2021 (i.e. containers exported on or after 12 April 2021). | Containers must be treated offshore prior to packing* using an approved treatment option and accompanied by a valid treatment certificate. *Note: treatment of containers already loaded with goods is acceptable for methyl bromide treatment only. |
| FCL/FCX container where other goods are packed into the sea container in a khapra beetle target risk country and destined to a rural grain growing area of Australia. | Mid-2021 (we will advise of the implementation date as soon as possible). | Containers must be treated offshore (prior to packing*) using an approved treatment option and accompanied by a valid treatment certificate. *Note: treatment of containers already loaded with goods is acceptable for methyl bromide treatment only. |
Additional communication material (such as fact sheets and infographics) for these changes will be developed and published as soon as possible.
Further information
For further information, see:
- Sea container measures to protect against khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) webpage
- Urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) webpage
- Khapra beetle bulletin.
For:
- questions and information related directly to offshore khapra beetle treatments, please email offshoretreatments@aff.gov.au.
- all other enquiries regarding these measures, please email imports@aff.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Plant Tier 2 – khapra urgent actions’).