Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) is considered a contaminating pest of wholegrains and nuts as well as many stored food products and is Australia’s number two National Priority Plant Pest.
While an infestation of khapra beetle can cause significant grain loss, the ongoing contamination can also affect the quality and safety of the product, often making it unsuitable for human consumption. If it were to establish in Australia, khapra beetle could have significant impacts on the Australian grain export industry and related food supply chains. Potential losses over 20 years have been estimated at up to $15.5 billion.
Since 2020, the number of detections of khapra beetle on goods or sea containers entering Australia has increased, prompting the federal government (through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) to implement a six-phase action plan.
This is designed to reduce the risk of khapra beetle entering Australia by applying stricter requirements within importation pathways and by broadening the range of imported materials targeted as khapra beetle carriers.
Action plan
The first three actions in the plan reduce the danger of khapra beetle entering Australia on high-risk plant products. This includes:
- banning high-risk plant products within Unaccompanied Personal Effects (UPE) and low-value freight;
- banning high-risk plant products on international travellers and mail articles; and
- tightening the requirements for high-risk plant products imported via commercial pathways.
As a result of phases 1 and 2, products such as rices, pulses, wheat, powdered herbs, nuts, beans, dried chilli and other seeds cannot be brought into the country by international travellers or sent through the mail. Under phase 3, commercial import pathways are now subjected to more stringent requirements.
The remaining actions (4, 5 and 6) involve new inspection and hygiene requirements for other risky plant products, seeds for sowing and sea containers.
In addition to the action taken at the border and pre-border, state government-led responses were taken in each of the states affected by the recent (2020 and 2021) post-border detections.
Surveillance of all sites identified by tracing commodity movements – including commercial premises (wholesale and retail) and private residences – has determined that the pest has been controlled.
The initial incursion risk was mitigated by the fast action undertaken by the federal government and the post-border detection responses led by affected states.
However, risks associated with increasing interceptions of khapra beetle require a longer-term plan of ongoing risk management.
As such, Australia’s national Plant Health Committee has developed a 10-year action plan. This plan identifies actions required for a risk-based approach to reducing the potential for khapra beetle to enter and establish in Australia and covers four key areas of activity:
- prevention;
- detection;
- surveillance; and
- cross-cutting issues, including communication and coordination.
More information: Kym McIntyre, kym.mcintyre@daf.qld.gov.au; the National Khapra Beetle Action Plan 2021-2031; National Priority Plant Pests; Six-phase urgent action plan