KHAPRA BEETLE TREATMENT FOR SEA CONTAINERS
Urgent actions are being taken on sea containers to protect Australia from the Khapra beetle, which poses an enormous threat to Australia’s exporting industry.
The Khapra beetle is Australia’s number one plant priority pest for grain, as it destroys grain quality making it unfit for human and animal consumption. Luckily, it is not present in Australia, however it is projected that the establishment of the Khapra beetle could cost Australia $15.5 billion over 20 years, as many international trading partners would begin to reject stored produce.
Because of the incredible threat these pesky beetles pose, the Australian government is enforcing more stringent regulations on imports from countries that have the bug present, which includes mandatory treatments on sea containers.
Why is this the case? Well, due to the agricultural pest’s small size, the presence of the beetle can remain undetected in sea containers. The beetle can also survive for years without food, and can populate rapidly when in favourable conditions.
NEW SHIPPING MEASURES
New measures, commencing on July 12th, will require mandatory offshore treatment for all FCL/FCX sea containers coming from target risk countries, and are planned to be unpacked in rural grain growing areas of Australia.
Essentially, you will be required to follow these regulations if:
- The sea container is coming from a country where the Khapra beetles is present;
- and you’re planning on unpacking your goods in an area where grain is produced (as outlined by the government).
If this is the case, then you are required to have that sea container:
- Treated offshore using a department approved treatment option;
- Treated within 21 days prior to export and
- accompanied by appropriate certification.
These new measures are in addition to the current Phase 6A regulations that are in place, which require the same treatment, but are specific to high-risk plant products packed into a sea container from target risk countries.
The challenge with these new requirements is knowing before packing the container where its intended place of unpacking falls within the outlined rural grain growing areas.
Any container that is not treated will be denied entry, and will likely be re-exported. If you’re unsure about a container’s place of unpacking, it is best to unpack at a metro postcode.

PHASE 6A SEA CONTAINER MEASURES
Type of target risk container | Implementation date | How to comply |
FCL/FCX container where high-risk plant products are packed into the sea container in a khapra beetle target risk country Note: For import conditions refer to the BICON case: Khapra beetle sea container measures | 12 April 2021(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 will be unpacked in a rural grain growing area of Australia Note: The import conditions will be included in the BICON case Non-commodity cargo clearance on 12 July 2021. | Will commence on 12 July 2021 (containers exported on or after 12 July 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. |
Note: ISO tanks, reefers, flat racks, LCL /FAK and containers that will be shipped as empty containers are excluded from the measures.
TARGET RISK COUNTRIES
The Khapra beetle is found throughout Africa, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

The target risk countries identified by the government are as follows:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Cyprus
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Greece
- India
- Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Iraq
- Israel
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Timor-Leste
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
GRAIN GROWING AREAS POSTCODES
The Australian Government has classified all grain growing areas postcodes across the country, organised by state, which can be found here.
APPROVED TREATMENT
There are three approved treatments against the Khapra beetle:
Methyl bromide
Heat treatment
Insecticide spray treatment
The Australian Government has approved a range of providers for these treatments, which are listed here.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these new regulations, get in touch with the McHugh & Eastwood team today
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