The Department of Agriculture has completed the seasonal measures for Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs for the 2021-2022 season.
In response to the rapid expansion of BMSB throughout Europe and North America, the department has retained the seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB from arriving in Australia for the 2021–22 BMSB risk season. The department has used a range of scientific, intelligence and evidence-based information when setting the measures, including data collected from the 2020-21 BMSB season onshore verification activities.
The measures will apply from 1 September 2021, for shipments that arrive in an Australian territory before 30 April 2022 (inclusive).
Target high risk goods shipped between 1 September 2021 and 30 April 2022 from target risk countries need to be treated and will be referred for intervention if they arrive by 31 May 2022 (inclusive).
For the 2021-22 BMSB risk season, heightened biosecurity measures will apply to:
- Certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries, and/or
- Vessels that berth at, load or tranship from target risk countries.
The Department of Agriculture will continue to review the measures and make any necessary adjustments during the season. Like previous seasons you must comply with these measures.
When your shipping is co-ordinated by our office, we will work with you and your suppliers closely to ensure that all requirements are adhered to in line with the new measures.
Should you or your supplier require assistance on clearance only shipments this will be levied at a fee for service rate.
If you have any questions or concerns now or at any time, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
TARGET RISK COUNTIRES:
The following countries below have been categorised as target risk.
Any target high risk or target risk goods which are manufactured in, or shipped from the target risk countries will be subject to BMSB seasonal measures.
Any vessel that berths at, loads or tranships from the target risk countries also subject to BMSB seasonal measures.
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Croatia
- Czechia
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- 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
*Japan – Heightened vessel surveillance will be the only measure applied.
In addition, the department continues 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.
The following countries have been identified as emerging risk countries for the 2020-21 BMSB risk season and may be selected for a random onshore inspection: Belarus, Malta, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Chile.
WHAT CARGO WILL BE EFFECTED?
As with previous seasons goods will be classified into two different classes:
TARGET HIGH RISK GOODS & TARGET RISK GOODS.
TARGET HIGH RISK GOODS:
Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications have been categorised as target high risk goods and will require mandatory treatment for BMSB risk.
TARGET RISK GOODS:
Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications have been categorised as target risk goods and will not require mandatory treatment. Target risk goods will however be subject to increased onshore intervention through random inspection.
For all other goods that are not categorised as target high risk and target risk goods, BMSB seasonal measures do not apply, however, these goods may be subject to the measures if they are part of a container or consignment that contains target high risk or target risk goods.
TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS:
Containerised cargo (FCL):
FCL shipments arriving in sealed six hard sided containers with target high risk goods can be treated offshore, or onshore at the container level.
LCL cargo packed within consolidated containers:
Consolidated (LCL) cargo containers with target high risk goods from target risk countries require mandatory treatments, this can be completed either at origin or destination. This process will be managed by the container master co-loaders.
Breakbulk/RoRo/Flatracks, Open Top containers and FCL containers that have been modified*:
Consignments of TARGET HIGH RISK goods shipped by Breakbulk, RoRo or via Flatrack or open top containers are subject to mandatory offshore treatment
* FCL containers that have been modified, such as those used to house in-built power generators, etc. are no longer sealed six hard sided containers and are considered to be break bulk cargo.
Air Cargo
Due to detections of live BMSB in previous season, air cargo arriving between 1 September and 30 November 2021 (inclusive) from USA and Italy, containing target high risk chapters 84, 85, 86 and 87 will be subject to random verification inspections.
TREATMENT OPTIONS:
There are currently 3 approved treatment options for BMSB treatment:
- Heat treatment
- Methyl Bromide
- Sulfuryl Fluoride
Target high risk goods requiring mandatory offshore treatment that arrive untreated or treated by an unapproved treatment provider in a target risk country, will be denied discharge and directed for export on arrival.
ALL OFFSHORE TREATMENT MUST BE COMPLETED BY APPROVED OFFSHORE TREATMENT PROVIDERS AND COMPLY WITH THE MINIMUM STANDARDS SET BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
