The Australian government has mandated that sea containers packed with high-risk plant products and loaded in a khapra beetle target risk country be treated offshore.
David Littleproud, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, says the mandatory offshore treatment is one of the urgent actions being put in place under the Australian Government’s $14.5 million investment in surge capacity to respond to the changing threat of khapra beetle.
“Khapra beetle is a significant global pest threat,” David says. “Australia is free of khapra beetle and it is important we keep it that way for continued access to valuable international markets.”
“80 per cent of our grain exports would be at risk if khapra established in Australia or if there was the perception that it had,” he continues. “Dried food exports such as nuts and dried fruit would also be at risk.”
David says that the khapra beetle is a unique threat to our export grains because of its ability to survive for long periods of time.
“Khapra beetle can survive as a hitchhiker pest in sea containers for a number of years with little to no food, and managing the risk of sea containers is a complex, global problem,” he says. “The government is working with overseas counterparts, industry and research organisations to identify possible global supply chain solutions. In the meantime, urgent actions are being put in place to minimise the risk this pest entering Australia via sea containers.”