By Amelia Bernasconi,Lara Webster
Copyright abc
One of the biggest threats to Australia’s multi-billion-dollar grains industry has been discovered in a box of children’s nappy pants imported to Australia.
The origin of the khapra beetle larvae, found in the nappy pants on September 7, is under investigation by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), which has ordered that the products be removed from supermarket shelves and secured.
Australia is currently free of khapra beetle, which DAFF has listed as the number-one-priority pest for grains, but if the beetle became established it could derail global trading for Australian grain.
“If the beetle was to establish here, many of our trading partners would reject stored produce from Australia,” DAFF explained on its website.
“Given that Australia exports much of the grain we grow, the beetle could cause huge losses, affecting Australia’s economy.”
DAFF said in a statement the larvae were found in Little One’s Ultra Dry Nappy Pants — Walker Size 5 (42pk).
“The nappy pants were sold nationally only through Woolworths stores and no other nappy sizes or brands are considered to be affected at this stage.
DAFF recommends that members of the public who have purchased Little One’s Nappy Pants or any goods with signs of pest activity do not use them and do not dispose of them or their packaging.
Where possible, seal the goods and their packaging in a bag to prevent any further spread and call 1800 798 636.
‘Serious risk’ to grains sector
The major concern is the impact the biosecurity breach could have on Australia’s grain sector, which is just weeks away from winter harvest.
DAFF says the “highly invasive pest” poses a serious risk to stored grains, rice, oilseeds and dried foodstuffs.
The tiny pest infests stored product in shipments or silos, eating it and contaminating it.
As a result the product is inedible for humans.
“In hot conditions, populations build up swiftly, causing significant losses to produce held in stores such as grain in silos,” it warns.
The beetle, native to India, has been labelled a “hitchhiker”, which can go undetected for some time.
“DAFF recommends that members of the public who have purchased Little One’s Nappy Pants … do not use the goods and do not dispose of the goods or their packaging — where possible, seal the goods and their packaging in a bag to prevent any pest spread,” the DAFF statement continued.
“The importer and Woolworths — who stocked the product nationally — has been working with DAFF to ensure all goods associated with this shipment have been traced and treated where appropriate, to ensure they do not pose an ongoing biosecurity risk,” DAFF said.
Agricultural analyst Andrew Whitelaw said the discovery was concerning.
“If khapra beetle got out there into the wider ecosystem it could cause substantial impacts on our grain trades.”
Mr Whitelaw said any spread of the pest could shut down trade for Australian grain growers through the potential for market closures and export bans.
“It could be billions upon billions of dollars that could be lost.”
Andrew Robinson, director of the University of Melbourne’s centre for excellence for biosecurity risk analysis, believes the discovery of khapra beetle shows Australia’s biosecurity system is working.
“Finding a pest like khapra beetle in nappies is certainly a surprising outcome,” Professor Robinson said.
“I would say I am confident that the system can rein in this current threat.”
A spokesperson for Woolworths said the supermarket chain “acted swiftly” as soon as it was made aware.
“This product is supplied to us through Ontex, who manufactures the products overseas and imports them to Australia.
“As soon as we became aware we acted swiftly, according to directions from DAFF, to remove the product from sale, quarantine it and commenced an investigation with the DAFF and Ontex.”
