Exotic timber pests - Help keep them out of Australia

What’s the risk?

Timber pests such as auger beetles, powder post beetles, longhorn beetles and termites already cost Australia’s important plantation and construction industries millions of dollars each year in control and remediation. We don’t need new timber pests—and we need you to help us keep them out.

Insect eggs and larvae can be almost impossible to spot before they hatch and in some cases they can stay hidden for years. That’s why Australia requires all timber and timber products to be treated before they leave overseas countries to minimise the risk of hitch-hikers arriving at our shores.

If treatment isn’t carried out correctly, these pests could cripple our timber industries and native forests. Alerting AQIS to the early signs of insect infestation can give us time to eradicate threats before they’re established.

What can we do?

Quarantine is everyone’s responsibility, so AQIS is asking everyone involved in importing goods into Australia to help us maintain Australia’s vital forest and timber industries. This includes suppliers, importers, brokers, depot staff and consumers.

It’s as simple as:

• telling your overseas suppliers about AQIS’s requirements
  
• making sure imported timber and timber goods meet Australian import conditions before they’re shipped
  
• having the appropriate documentation (your regional AQIS office can help)
  
• calling AQIS on 1800 020 504 if you spot anything that doesn’t look quite right
  
• learning what to look for—use the illustrations above as a guide to signs of insects in timber and timber goods
  
• containing suspect goods before you call AQIS
  
• checking AQIS’s ICON import conditions database for up-to-date import requirements—go to www.aqis.gov.au/icon