The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) initiated this pest risk analysis (PRA) in response to the introduction of emergency measures to manage the biosecurity risks of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium). Khapra beetle is one of the most destructive storage pests globally. It is currently not present in Australia. It is number one pest for the Australian grain industry and number two on the National Priority Plant Pests list. In response to a marked increase in detections of khapra beetle at the Australian border in 2019-2020, Australia introduced emergency measures to manage the biosecurity risks of khapra beetle associated with
the importation of plant products and sea containers, in phases from September 2020.

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the ‘World Trade Organisation Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures’ (SPS Agreement) require that phytosanitary measures against the introduction of new pests be technically justified. The IPPC’s International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 1 states that countries may take appropriate emergency action on a pest posing a potential threat to its territories; however, it requires that the action be evaluated as soon as possible to justify the continuation of the action.

The department is undertaking the PRA for khapra beetle in two parts, Part 1 for plant product pathways and Part 2 for sea container pathways. The PRA meets Australia’s international obligations to review the emergency measures for khapra beetle. This draft report is for Part 1 of the PRA.

This draft report presents pest risk assessments for khapra beetle associated with imported plant product pathways, evaluates existing emergency measures and their basis, and proposes risk management measures for this beetle to achieve the appropriate level of protection (ALOP) for Australia.