2023 / 2024 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Fumigation Measures (Australia)
2023 / 2024 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Fumigation Measures (Australia)
06/09/2023
Customer Advisory
This document outlines the requirements for Australia’s Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) fumigation measures where offshore treatment is mandatory and action is required by Shippers or their agent.
High risk goods shipped as breakbulk, in open top containers or on flat rack containers where goods are manufactured in, or shipped from target countries between 1 September 2023 and 30 April 2024 inclusive, are subject to the BMSB seasonal measures.
The Target Countries List has been expanded, as detailed below:
• Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan
• Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria
• Canada, Croatia, Czechia
• France
• Georgia, Germany, Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Japan (heightened vessel surveillance the only measure applied)
• Kazakhstan, Kosovo
• Liechtenstein, Luxembourg
• Montenegro, Moldova
• Netherlands
• Poland, Portugal
• Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Russia
• Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland
• Turkey
• Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan
The following countries have been identified as emerging risk countries and may be selected for a random onshore inspection: China, United Kingdom.
Any target high risk or target risk goods which are manufactured in or shipped from the target risk countries will be subject to the BMSB seasonal measures and require the appropriate treatment/fumigation.
In addition, the Department of Agriculture will continue to review the changing risk status of BMSB and will also be undertaking random onshore inspections on goods from other emerging risk countries to verify pest absence in goods.
Notes:
The shipped-on board date, as indicated on the Ocean Bill of Lading, is the date used to determine when goods have been shipped. “Gate in” dates and times will not be accepted by The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to determine when goods are shipped.
In conjunction with New Zealand MPI, New Zealand and Australia will not be conducting BMSB treatments for each other. i.e., Goods bound for Australia cannot be treated for BMSB in New Zealand and vice versa. For example, if the goods have been exported from New Zealand for not meeting BMSB import conditions, they will not be permitted to be treated in Australia, and vice versa.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ (DAFF) policy of ‘Ship within 120 hours of cargo/container fumigation having been carried out’ has been amended to allow onshore re-treatment, in certain situations, where goods have been rolled to a later sailing (with evidence).
The following link lists the approved fumigators by country: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/before/prepare/treatment-outside-australia/offshore-treatment-providers
To stay updated on the BMSB seasonal measures and requirements please visit www.agriculture.gov.au/bmsb