Transitional period ending 12 November - Khapra Beetle treatment and phytosanitary requirements
Stockwells received the following notice which affects importers of plant products for human consumption (e.g. rice, beans, lentils, dried chilli, cumin and coriander seed).
On 28 May 2025, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) updated the phytosanitary requirements for pre-border khapra beetle treatments, as advised in IIAN 165-2025: Revised conditions for offshore treatments and certification for khapra beetle now in effect.
These changes included:
- Revised wording for gas permeable packaging additional declarations. (goods only)
- New NPPO supervision requirement and additional declaration for treatments undertaken by a provider that is listed as suspended, under review, withdrawn or unacceptable on the lists of registered and unregistered treatment providers. (goods and sea containers)
Since 28 May 2025, a transitional period has been in effect whereby the department has accepted phytosanitary documentation that has not complied with the updated requirements.
The transitional period will conclude 12 November 2025. All consignments that have not yet been cleared through the Australian Border by 12 November 2025 must fully comply with the updated requirements.
From 12 November, consignments that do not comply with import conditions will be directed for remedial action to manage the associated risks, which may include export or destruction.
The in-transit policy will be applied to goods or containers that have been treated for khapra beetle by a treatment provider whose status changed to ‘under review’, ‘suspended’, ‘unacceptable’ or ‘withdrawn’ while the goods were in-transit to Australia.
Where the treatment provider’s status has changed, the following in-transit policies will apply:
- Policy for the goods: All treatment certification issued by the treatment provider will be considered unacceptable if the date of their status change was before the phytosanitary certificate was issued. In this case the goods will be subject to onshore management such as export or destruction.
- Treatments will be considered acceptable if the date of their change in status is after the phytosanitary certificate was issued, provided all treatment requirements are met, and no evidence of treatment failure is observed during inspection.
- Policy for the container: All treatment certification issued by the provider after the date of their change in status will be considered unacceptable, and the packed container will be subject to onshore treatment.
Note: When both the goods and container in-transit policies are enacted, the container will be directed for treatment first, and then the goods will be managed accordingly.
Affected import permits may require variation to update onshore management accordingly. No changes to the import conditions themselves will be made, however a new Permit ID will be issued. Permit holders will be contacted prior to 12 November if your permit requires a variation. Permit variations will be at no cost to importers.
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