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Important Notice: Prevent Infestation of BMSB

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This notice is in regards to the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season that is about to commence here in Australia.  The season runs from cargo departing  1st September 2018 until the 30th April 2019 inclusive and encompasses all cargo being imported into Australia from the following countries:

  1. United States of America
  2. Italy
  3. Germany
  4. France
  5. Russia
  6. Greece
  7. Hungary
  8. Romania
  9. Georgia
  10. Japan (Vessels only)

Details of the seasonal measures for the 2018-19 BSMB season are outlined below. Throughout the season Australian Quarantine will continue to review the measures based on detections of BMSB and the risk pathways.

Goods:

  • Certain goods (target high risk and target risk goods) manufactured, or shipped from the target risk countries as sea cargo.
  • Mandatory offshore treatment of target high risk goods shipped as break bulk, in open top containers or on flat rack containers.
  • Mandatory offshore treatment of target high risk goods shipped as LCL (less than container load) or FAK (freight of all kinds) prior to arrival into Australian territory.
  • Mandatory treatment (onshore or offshore) of target high risk goods shipped as FCL (full container load) or FCX (full container consolidated).
  • Target high risk goods shipped as FCL and FCX may be treated on arrival in Australia at the container level. However, deconsolidation or removal of goods (for example, exempt goods) will not be permitted prior to the treatment.
  • Export or destruction of target high risk goods requiring mandatory offshore treatment and arriving untreated, or treated by an unapproved treatment provider, unless exceptional circumstances are granted.
  • Target risk goods will be subject to increased onshore intervention through random inspection and will be directed for onshore treatment if BMSB is detected.
  • Random inspection of goods after treatment to validate the effectiveness of treatments.
  • Random inspection of goods from all other emerging BMSB risk countries.
  • All goods must still meet standard import conditions in BICON.

Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) – Quarantine – have advised that any Treatment Provider completing offshore treatment for the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug apply for registration in Australia. This must be completed prior to cargo being exported from any of these listed countries.

Note that if cargo arrives into Australia with treatment being carried out by a non-registered company, cargo will be refused and subsequently re-exported at the expense of the owner of the goods.

IMPORTANT: Offshore treatment providers are required to register their company details via the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website.

If you are importing from any of the above countries it is imperative that you provide this notice to your supplier to inform them of their responsibility to comply. 

We will also ensure that EES Shipping’s agency networks within these ten listed countries are informed of these new strict laws that we all must adhere to.

The Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is not found in Australia and needs to be kept out. If the BMSB was introduced into Australia it could severely impact our agricultural industries. 

If you have any questions regarding the above notice, please do not hesitate to contact Phil Gray, EES Customs Manager