Khapra Beetle & Trogoderma Update: What to Know (Effective 30 April 2026)

Australia continues to strengthen its biosecurity system, and the latest changes focus on managing the risk of khapra beetle and other Trogoderma species entering the country through imported plant products, seeds, and sea containers.

If you import goods into Australia — especially plant products or anything shipped in sea containers — these updates matter for you.

Below is a simple breakdown of the changes coming into effect on 30 April 2026.

Why This Matters

Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) is one of the world’s most destructive pests of stored grain. A single incursion could cause:

• Major trade disruptions
• Costly fumigation and treatment requirements
• Long-term contamination of storage facilities
• Serious impacts on Australia’s grain industry

Because of this, Australia maintains strict import rules — and those rules are now being updated.

What’s Changing on 30 April 2026

1. Eight New Countries Added to the Target‑Risk Khapra Beetle List

Australia will add the following countries to its List of Target‑risk Khapra Beetle Countries:

Angola, Chad, Guinea, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkmenistan

Why? The Draft Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) found references suggesting khapra beetle may be present in these countries. Australia sought clarification from their National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPOs), but there wasn’t enough evidence to confirm absence.

What this means for importers

If you import goods from these countries:

High‑risk plant products

You will now need:

• Mandatory pre‑export treatment
• Post‑treatment NPPO inspection
• Phytosanitary certificates confirming treatment and freedom from live Trogoderma species

Other‑risk plant products

Existing phytosanitary requirements continue, but with updated Trogoderma species rules (see Change 2).

Target‑risk sea containers

Mandatory pre‑export treatment applies if:

• The container is packed with high‑risk plant products, or
• The container will be unpacked in a rural khapra risk postcode in Australia

These updates will appear in BICON on 30 April 2026.

2. Removal of Trogoderma serraticorne From the Biosecurity Concern List

Australia will remove Trogoderma serraticorne from its List of Trogoderma Species of Biosecurity Concern.

What this means

From 30 April 2026:

• NPPOs no longer need to inspect or certify goods for T. serraticorne.
• All other listed Trogoderma species still require inspection and certification.

This applies to:

• High‑risk plant products from non‑target‑risk countries
• All other‑risk plant products from any country

Why the change? The Draft PRA found that T. serraticorne is unlikely to be associated with plant products, so its inclusion is no longer justified.

Goods Already in Transit

The date that matters is the shipped‑on‑board date:

• Shipped on or before 29 April 2026 → assessed under the old rules
• Shipped on or after 30 April 2026 → must meet the new requirements

Make sure your suppliers understand this — incorrect dates or documentation can lead to delays, re-export, or destruction.

What Importers Should Do Now

To avoid disruptions:

• Check whether your supply chains involve the newly listed countries
• Confirm whether your goods fall under high‑risk or other‑risk categories
• Update supplier instructions and documentation requirements
• Ensure sea container packing and treatment processes meet the new rules
• Review BICON cases from 30 April 2026 for updated conditions

A quick conversation with your suppliers now can prevent costly issues later.

Need More Information?

Importers or industry partners can contact Plant Import Operations at: imports@aff.gov.au (Use subject line: Plant T2 – Khapra)