Beetle that threatens Australia’s grains industry found in imported nappies
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The pest could infest grain storages and disrupt agricultural exports.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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CANBERRA – Australia has detected khapra beetle larvae in imported nappies sold in supermarkets nationwide, the Agriculture Ministry said, raising concerns that the pest could infest grain storages and disrupt agricultural exports.
In a statement on Sept 16, the ministry said it had been working with the importer and retailer of the nappies to trace and treat products containing the insect since it was alerted to their detection in New South Wales on Sept 7.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the beetles, which feed on stored food and make it unusable, had hitchhiked to Australia in a shipping container.
“We’ve managed to track down around 1,500 of the 2,000 cartons (of nappies) but there are still some in circulation,” she said in an Australian Broadcasting Corporation report on Sept 18.
“We want to, of course, make sure that this doesn’t take hold anywhere, and we’ve got them all,” she added.
Australia is currently free of the khapra beetle, a tiny brown insect up to 3mm long that feeds on stored food, making it unusable.
The ministry classifies the khapra beetles as the biggest pest threat to Australia’s A$18 billion (S$15.3 billion) grains industry, saying that its establishment in the country would cause trading partners to reject Australian goods, causing huge losses.
Australia is one of the world’s biggest exporters of wheat, barley and sorghum.
“This is a pest that would have the same impact as a foot and mouth animal disease outbreak in Australia,” said Mr Xavier Martin, president of farm industry group NSW Farmers.
“Governments have to do everything in their power to contain and eradicate this pest, or the damage will be beyond our worst nightmare,” he said.
The larvae were found in the brand Little One’s Ultra Dry Nappy Pants Walker Size 5, the ministry said.
It is sold by only Woolworths, Australia’s largest supermarket chain. Woolworths said it has removed nappies of that brand in that size from shelves and quarantined them.
The company also said the nappies were supplied by Belgian manufacturer Ontex.
Ontex said in a statement on Sept 18 that it did not know where the larvae had come from, but added that there was no evidence they were introduced when the nappies were being produced.
“Operations at our Eastern Creek manufacturing and warehouse facility (in Sydney) have been suspended until comprehensive checks are completed, and we receive confirmation that manufacturing and shipping can safely resume,” it said.
Khapra beetles are native to India but have spread to numerous countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, according to the ministry. REUTERS
