An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Agricultural

Marketing

Service 

Federal Grain Inspection 

Service

Field Management 

Division 

1400 Independence Ave. 

SW, Stop 3630

Washington, D.C. 20250

Voice (202) 720-0228

Fax (202) 690-3951

Hotline 1-800-998-3447

Reference #289 January 12, 2022

TO: FGIS POLICY BULLETIN BOARD

FROM: Anthony Goodeman, Director

 Field Management Division 

SUBJECT: New Phytosanitary Requirements for Australia

ORIGINATING OFFICE: Policies, Procedures, and Market Analysis Branch

1. PURPOSE

Per request of USDA’s-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS), this memorandum establishes expanded phytosanitary 

	 inspection instructions for official personnel (Federal Grain Inspection

	 Service (FGIS) and Official Agency personnel) applicable to wheat,

soybeans, rice, peas, beans, or lentils shipped to Australia.

2. BACKGROUND

The Government of Australia-Department of Agriculture, Water, 

and the Environment issued new requirements for reducing the risk 

of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) from entering Australia, 

effective from September 30, 2021. The new import conditions app

to wheat, soybeans, rice, peas, beans, and lentils, among other plant 

products. Read the Alert on the link below: 

https://bicon.agriculture.gov.au/BiconWeb4.0/ViewElement/Element/

Alert?elementPk=1641940

The genus Trogoderma currently has more than 150 known species 

of which Khapra beetle is but one. The Australian regulations list 12 

species of Trogoderma as being a biosecurity concern, listed on the 

link below:

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/plant/khaprabeetle/urgent-actions#trogoderma-species-of-concern
Page 2

3. POLICY

All shipments of wheat, soybeans, rice, peas, beans, or lentils to Australia must have a 

prior-to-loading stowage exam of the carrier. All shipments of wheat, soybeans, rice, 

peas, beans, or lentils to Australia are required to be inspected for members of the 

genus Trogoderma. Upon completion of the inspection, a statement must be placed in 

the Remarks section of FGIS 921-2 according the procedures below.

4. PROCEDURES

a.	 Prior to loading, official personnel must conduct an official stowage examination

in accordance with FGIS Directive 9180.48, Stowage Examination Services. Issue

	 an Official Stowage Examination Certificate upon request. This is required for a

grains and commodities.

Note: A stowage exam remains permissive and must be requested under 

the Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) for commodities and processed 

products, however a stowage exam is required to comply with this protocol 

applicable to Australia. 

b.	 During loading, official personnel must perform a phytosanitary Inspection in

	 accordance with FGIS Directive 9180.35, Phytosanitary Inspection.

	 (1)	 Official personnel must specifically look for evidence of Trogoderma insects.

(2) Inspect for ANY Trogoderma insect evidence: live Trogoderma insects, dead 

 Trogoderma insects, and the shed larval stage skins (a.k.a. exuviae, 

 exoskeleton) of Trogoderma insects. Attachment 1 provides pictures of the 

 adult stage of 10 species of interest, and examples of larval and shed skin 

 stages.

c.	 After loading official personnel must complete the FGIS 921-2 Insects in Grain

Report:

(1) If no Trogoderma insects, whether alive, dead, or exuviae were found, place

 the following statement in the remarks section of the 921-2:

 “Representative samples were inspected and found free from evidence of any

 species of Trogoderma (alive, dead or exuviae) in Australia’s list of 

 Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern.”
Page 

(2) If ANY evidence of Trogoderma (alive, dead or exuviae) were found, forward

	 	 them to APHIS for identification before certifying. Contact the local APH

	 	 Export Certification Specialist (ECS) for assistance. The ECS may refer

	 	 official personnel to an authorized local university or another APHIS office.

	 	 Official personnel may obtain the local ECS contact information at this APHIS

 website:https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/SA_Export/

 CT_	Export_Cerification_Specialists. Select the State in the drop-down menu

 in the middle of the page.

 Note: These additional protocols have been made mandatory by 

Australia and are a requirement for the issuance of a phytosanitary 

certificate. Shippers should be aware of these requirements but may 

need to be reminded.

5. FILING INSTRUCTIONS

	 File a copy of this memo with the FGIS Directive 9180.35, Phytosanitary Inspection.

	 Field office managers must ensure that a copy of this memorandum was received by all

	 official agencies operating within their circuit. FGIS encourages official servi

providers to share this policy notice with applicants for service in the case of wheat, 

soybeans, rice, peas, beans, or lentils bound for Australia. 

6. QUESTIONS

	 Direct any questions regarding this procedure to the local field office or to

AMS - FGIS Policies Procedures and Market Analysis Branch.

Attachments