Last month we reported on the two-stage plan to tackle the Khapra Beetle problem. Now the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) has issued a further notice (IAN 34-2021): Sea container measures to protect against khapra beetle, which outlines urgent actions that are to commence from 12 April 2021.
The notice is addressed to: Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries – including vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal shipping agents, and any other operators in the sea container supply and logistics chain.
As notified in the previous announcement, Phase 6A of the khapra beetle program will introduce mandatory offshore treatment requirements for target risk sea containers.
A target risk container is defined as a Full Container Load/Full Container Consolidated (FCL/FCX) where:
– high-risk plant products are packed into the sea container in a khapra beetle target risk country
– other goods are packed into the sea container in a khapra beetle target risk country and destined to a rural grain growing area of Australia.
Note:ISO tanks, reefers, flat racks, LCL /FAK and containers that will be shipped as empty containers are excluded from the measures.
Target risk containers must be:
– treated offshore using a DAWEÂ approved treatment option
– Treated within 21 days of export – and:
– accompanied by appropriate certification.
The target of these treatments is the container and not the goods/commodity being shipped within the container. This means that the container must be treated prior to packing, except if using methyl bromide fumigation.
The start date for these requirements depends on the type of target risk container:
|
Type of target risk container |
Implementation date |
How to comply |
|
Full Container Load (FCL)/Full Container Consolidated (FCX) container where high-risk plant products are packed into the sea container in a khapra beetle target risk country. |
12 April 2021Â |
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 destined to a rural grain growing area of Australia. |
Mid-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. |
Please note: Failure to comply with these requirements will result in export of the container upon arrival in Australia.
There is a lot of information to wade through for importers of targeted containers. We recommend you start by talking to us here at Colless Young. As a licensed Customs Broker and International Freight Forwarder, we offer correct, professional advice on all your import requirements, including quarantine (biosecurity) inspections and treatments.
Based in Brisbane, Colless Young offers you a complete range of logistics services, both air and sea, import and export, through all Australian ports and airports, including trucking, warehousing and fumigation.
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