Latest updates:
The BMSB methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride treatment rates have been updated to incorporate specific start time concentration reading and top up requirements for BMSB fumigations.
If you have a Seasonal Pest (SP-M) hold on your LCL/FAK container please ensure you have lodged an MC declaration form before contacting the department. If you have not registered as a Master Consolidator, information is available on the managing LCL/FAK containers webpage.
The department has published a series of factsheets to provide further guidance on conducting effective and compliant BMSB treatments. The factsheets are available on the Guidance for conducting BMSB Treatments webpage.
The department has published BMSB webpage content for the 2019-20 season. This content includes information on preparing to import goods, managing LCL/FAK containers, what happens to your goods on arrival and a BMSB lodgement page for Master Consolidator declarations.
2019-20 Seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)
In response to the rapid expansion of BMSB throughout Europe and North America, the department has strengthened the seasonal measures to manage risk of BMSB from arriving in Australia for the 2019–20 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 2018-19 BMSB season onshore verification activities.
The department has also worked closely with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries on the 2019-20 measures to ensure both Australia and New Zealand’s BMSB seasonal measures are consistent across the two countries where possible.
For the 2019-20 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 measures apply from 1 September 2019 that arrive in Australian territory by 31 May 2020 (inclusive).
Goods shipped between 1 September and 30 April need to be treated, and will be referred for intervention if they arrive by 31 May 2020.
For goods that are shipped prior to 30 April and arrive after 31 May, they may be subject to intervention as required.
As with previous BMSB risk seasons, you must comply with these measures. Throughout the season we will continue to review these measures based on detections of BMSB and the risk pathways and make any necessary adjustments.
Details of the final seasonal measures for the 2019-20 BMSB season are outlined below.
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.
The department will be monitoring a number of emerging risk countries (watch list countries) throughout the season. Target high risk and risk goods from these countries may be subject to random onshore inspections to verify freedom from BMSB contamination.
All roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) vessels will be subject to heightened vessel surveillance.
All ro-ro vessels that berth at, load or tranship in target risk countries from 1 September 2019 and that arrive in Australian territory by 31 May 2020 (inclusive) will be required to:
Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme
In response to detections and challenges in managing on board infestations during the 2018-19 season, a Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme (VSPS) will be introduced for the 2019-20 risk season as an alternative vessel clearance pathway for ro-ro vessels.
The department will work with selected shipping lines to trial the VSPS. For further information on the VSPS and 2019-20 BMSB seasonal measures for vessels visit the .
Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications have been categorised as target high risk goods and will require mandatory treatment for BMSB risk.
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 of target high risk goods
Break bulk goods
Containerised goods not including LCL consignments and FAK containers
Containerised goods shipped as Less than Container Load (LCL) consignments and Freight of all Kinds (FAK) containers
Random onshore verification inspections
Known risk pathways and supply chains
There are no exemptions to the measures except in the scenarios below.
Exceptional circumstances
For very specific situations an exemption may be provided where goods are being imported for the use of delivering emergency services, and the measures will significantly impact the delivery of that service to state or federal government.
In this situation, early reporting of no less than five business days prior to the first port of arrival in Australia will be required and your goods be assessed for alternate consideration. If prior approval is not sought, the goods cannot be exempted and will be directed for treatment onshore (if permitted), or exported on arrival.
New, unused and not field tested (NUFT) goods
The department will permit certain goods manufactured on or after 1 December 2019, and that can meet the full NUFT criteria to be exempt from BMSB measures.
Goods classified under tariff chapters 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89 will be accepted under the NUFT criteria as long as they meet certain conditions.
Treatment Rates
There are three approved treatment options for BMSB treatment.
The approved treatments are:
Heat
For all goods types and sizes
Individual goods shipped as break bulk weighing less than 3000kg treated at 60°C for 10 minutes require evidence within shipping documentation that they are less than 3000kg for these treatments to be accepted.
Methyl Bromide
Dose increases to compensate for temperatures less than 10°C is NOT permitted. Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted. If the concentration of fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed.
Sulfuryl Fluoride
Dose increases to compensate for temperatures less than 10°C is NOT permitted. Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted. If the concentration of fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed.
Sulfuryl Fluoride – Using third-party system*
The approved third party systems are:
Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted. If the concentration of fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed.
Treatment minimum standards
There are set for the application of BMSB treatments. Treatments applied for biosecurity purposes are part of managing the risk of introducing exotic pests and diseases.
It is important that treatment providers understand these requirements as treatments to manage risk are only effective when conducted correctly. These standards outline best practice methodologies for applying biosecurity treatments.
Where onshore treatment of goods is permitted, you can find a on the department’s website.
The Offshore Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Treatment Providers Scheme (the scheme) sets out the department’s registration and compliance requirements for BMSB treatment providers, including compliance with applicable treatment methodologies.
Treatment providers that were registered under the scheme during the 2018-19 season must complete a renewal application for the 2019-20 season. The renewal application and application for new treatment providers is now available on the page webpage.
Treatment providers in target risk countries
All BMSB treatment providers in target risk countries must first register and be approved under the scheme by the department prior to treatment. Treatments conducted by an unapproved treatment provider in a target risk country will not be recognised as valid and the goods will be subject to onshore treatment (if permitted), or be directed for export.
Treatment providers in non-target risk countries
Treatment providers in other countries who intend to conduct BMSB treatments for goods that are manufactured in any of the target risk counties are also encouraged to register under the offshore treatment provider’s scheme.
Treatment certificates from providers in non-target risk countries who do not register will be accepted, however these goods will be subject to increased intervention on arrival compared to those treated by approved treatment providers.
Treatment providers in non-target risk countries who perform multiple BMSB treatments during the season must join the .
If unregistered treatment providers continue to treat and present treatment certificates throughout the season and have not made any effort to register, future treated goods may be exported.
Fraudulent certificates
For treatments conducted in target risk countries, we will only accept BMSB treatment certificates from approved list of treatment providers.
The department continues to improve its systems to monitor and detect the use of fraudulent certificates and will identify consignments that arrive in Australia with a fraudulent documentation.
Any consignment identified with a fraudulent certificate or with a certificate from a treatment provider in a target risk country that is not approved will be directed for onshore treatment (if permitted), or exported.
A new safeguarding arrangements scheme to allow certain goods and supply chains to be recognised under safeguarding arrangements has been developed.
Under the scheme, approved participants will be recognised for their ability to manage biosecurity risk offshore, including seasonal hitchhiker pest risk such as BMSB, from the point of manufacture to the point of embarkation.
The scheme will consider the ability of the entity to manage and reduce biosecurity risk by providing risk management plans of the goods they expect to import that may be susceptible to infestation by seasonal hitchhiker pests and/or other contaminants.
The scheme will be trialled with select industry participants before being opened to all other industry participants.
More information on the scheme will be available soon.
Industry is encouraged to visit the department’s dedicated BMSB seasonal measures webpages in the first instance. This is currently the single point of reference for the department’s policies to manage the risk of BMSB for the 2019-20 BMSB risk season.
If you have a specific policy inquiry that is not addressed on the webpages, please send your inquiry to the dedicated seasonal pest policy inbox at . The department will endeavour to respond to all inquiries within 10 business days.
Further information on the department’s contact points will be made available soon.
We provide information on changes to import requirements, including updates on Brown marmorated stink bug seasonal measures, through our .
Click to .
If you see something that could have entered Australia with imported goods report it to See. Secure. Report. on 1800 798 636 or complete the .
