Seasonal measures for brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)

Updated 07/09/22

The brown marmorated stick bug (BMSB) is ranked 9 on Australia’s National Priority Plant Pest list. The bug is known to feed on around 300 different plant species and are known to feed on and severely damage fruit and vegetable crops. Giving it the potential to severely impact Australian and New Zealand agriculture industries. 

The following displays the latest update to the 2022-23 seasonal measure from The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:

BMSB seasonal measures will apply to targeted goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries, that have been shipped between 1 September 2022 and 30 April 2023 (inclusive), and to vessels that berth, load, or tranship from target risk countries within the same period.

Note: 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 to determine when goods are shipped.

We continuously review the measures throughout the season and may make necessary adjustments based on detections of BMSB and changes in the risk pathways.

What’s New

1 August 2022

• Emerging risk countries – China and UK only
• Chapters 39, 94 and 95 will be subject to random inspections for emerging risk countries
• 120 hours policy been amended for goods that have been rolled (with evidence)
• Inspect (unpack) Inspections instead of Secure Seals intact inspections at Approved Arrangements

BMSB Measures for goods

• If your goods are classed as target high risk, they will require mandatory treatment.
• If your goods are classed as target risk, they will be subject to random inspection.
• If your goods are not found in either category, they are not subject to BMSB measures, however, will be subject to the measures if packed with target high risk or risk goods.

Goods shipped in iso-tanks and as bulk-in-holds of cargo vessels are not subject to the measures.

Treatment of target high risk goods

• Target high risk goods treated in target risk countries must be treated by a registered offshore BMSB treatment provider approved under the Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme.
• Treatments conducted by an unapproved treatment provider in a target risk country will be deemed as invalid.
  • Containerised goods will be directed for onshore treatment.
  • Break bulk will be directed for export.

Break bulk goods

• Break bulk includes those goods shipped on flat racks and in open top containers.
• All target high risk goods shipped as break bulk must be treated offshore prior to arrival into Australia.
• Untreated break bulk will be directed for export.
• Onshore treatment is not permitted.
• 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 are considered to be break bulk cargo
• Automated Entry Processing for Commodity (AEPCOMM) arrangements for BMSB is permitted for break bulk goods. See relevant BICON commodities for assessment and outcomes.

Containerised goods (FCL, FCX)

• Containerised cargo arriving in sealed six hard sided containers with target high risk goods can be treated offshore, or onshore at the container level.
• Refrigerated containers (operating and non-operating) and hard top sealed containers (ISO22U6/ISO22UP, ISO42U6/ISO42UP and ISO45U6/ISO45UP) are deemed to be the same as six hard sided sealed containers.
• Onshore treatment of goods is to occur at the container level. Deconsolidation or removal of goods from the container will not be permitted prior to treatment.
• Ensure containers are packed in a manner that will enable effective onshore treatment at the container level to avoid possible export of the container.
• AEPCOMM arrangements for BMSB is permitted for containerised goods shipped as FCL (Full Container Load) and FCX (Full Container Consolidated). See relevant BICON commodities for assessment and outcomes.
• To demonstrate goods were sealed inside a container prior to 1 September 2022 or after treatment, a BMSB sealing declaration must be provided with the lodgement. This document is required where:
  • Goods were containerised prior to 1 September 2022, but shipped after this date, or
  • The bill of lading does not state the shipped-on board date, or
  • Goods were sealed inside the container within 120 hours of treatment occurring offshore (for treatments conducted prior to 1 December)
  • Sealing declarations must be completed and signed by either the exporter, freight forwarder, or shipping company at the port of origin.

Note: Container tracking information may be used as supplementary means of confirming shipped on board date. It cannot be used as the primary form of evidence. Container tracking information is insufficient for demonstrating when goods were sealed in a container.

120 Hour Post Treatment Window

For goods treated prior to 1 December, a 120 hour post treatment window applies after they have been treated.
The 120 hour timeframe commences after treatment has been completed or when ventilation commences. For example, for:

• Fumigation treatment: where goods have been treated and treatment seals left intact, the post treatment window will commence when ventilation commences.
• Heat treatment: where goods have been treated separately to container and there are no treatment seals, the post treatment window commences immediately after treatment has been completed.

Containerised goods – Goods must be loaded into a six hard sided container and sealed within 120 hours. A sealing declaration can be provided if required.
Break bulk (including flat racks and open top containers) – must be loaded onto a vessel for export from the target risk country within the defined timeframe of 120 hours.
Note: The post treatment window does not apply to goods treated in a non-target risk country, or to goods treated in a target risk country from 1 December (inclusive).

Scenarios

• OT container, treated 29 August. Shipped on board 5 September. The 120 hour post treatment window starts from when treatment is completed. Goods are shipped on board outside of the 120 hours and therefore require retreatment prior to arrival into Australia.
• OT container, treated 29 Nov, shipped on board 7 December. These goods were treated prior to 1 December, therefore are still subject to the post treatment window of 120 hours.
• Flat rack, treated 2 November, shipped on board 4 November. Transhipped via another target risk country. Discharged 28 November and loaded onboard another vessel on 5 December. These goods are subject to the 120 hour transhipping window as were discharged pre 1 December.
• BB, treated 20 November, shipped on board 23 November. Discharged in a target risk country 4 December and loaded on board another vessel 12 December. As the goods were discharged after 1 December, the 120 hour window does not apply.

What happens to goods that arrive in Australia that have not met post treatment window requirements?

Onshore treatment is permitted for target high risk goods shipped in sealed six hard sided containers. For goods in sealed six hard sided containers, if the goods cannot be treated at the container level, the cargo will be directed for export. Deconsolidation or removal of goods will not be permitted prior to treatment.

Break bulk (including open top and flat rack containers) will be denied discharge and directed for export for retreatment offshore.

Where break bulk, open top or flat racks have been treated prior to export to Australia, and the goods have been rolled (by no more than 48 hours over the 120 hours), the goods may be treated in Australia providing:
An email must be sent to SPP@agriculture.gov.au prior to the vessel arriving in Australia, providing:

• Evidence the goods were delayed with the confirmation of the rebooking (normally correspondence from the shipping line), and
• Confirmation (copy of the email) from the onshore treatment provider stating: the goods will be tarped within 24 hours of discharge, and they will be treated within 48 hours of discharge.

If an email is not received, the goods will be denied discharge and directed for export. This information will be required prior to vessels arrival, to allow adequate time for an approval letter for onshore treatment of the goods to be issued.

Note: if goods have been exported outside the 120 hours but are transshipping through a third country, the department highly recommends they be treated before loading to Australia rather than waiting to arrive in Australia to be exported for re-treatment.

Containerised goods shipped as Less than Container Load (LCL) consignments and Freight of all Kinds (FAK) containers

LCL and FAK containers with target high risk goods will be managed at the container level for BMSB risk prior to deconsolidation. Once BMSB risk has been managed, the consignments within these containers will be processed at the Full Import Declaration (FID) level for all other biosecurity intervention (if applicable).

See the Management of LCL/FAK containers web page for more details.

Known risk pathways and supply chains

• Goods from known risk pathways and supply chains that have had previous detections of BMSB may be subject to BMSB intervention including treatment and/or inspections.
• These risk pathways and supply chains will be reviewed throughout the season and adjusted to manage the risk of BMSB as required.

Treatment of BMSB goods in Australia and New Zealand

• The BMSB Seasonal measures are for goods being imported into Australian territory, and managing the risk associated for all goods that come into Australian territory.
• In conjunction with New Zealand MPI, New Zealand and Australia will not be conducting BMSB treatments for each other.
• 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.

Target risk countries

The following countries below have been categorised as target risk:

• Albania
• Andorra
• Armenia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Croatia
• Czechia
• France
• Japan (heightened vessel surveillance only).
• 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

The following countries have been identified as emerging risk countries for the -BMSB risk season and may be selected for a random onshore inspection: United Kingdom and China

• China – random inspections will apply to goods shipped between 1 September 2022 to 31 December 2022 (inclusive)
• United Kingdom – random inspections will apply to goods shipped between 1 December  2022 to 30 April 2023 (inclusive)
• In addition to the target high risk goods, chapters 39, 94 and 95 will be subject to random inspections for emerging risk countries only

Target goods subject to the measures

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.

• 44 – Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal
• 45 – Cork and articles of cork
• 57 – Carpets and other textile floor coverings
• 68 – Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials
• 69 – Ceramic products – including sub chapters I and II
• 70 – Glass and glass ware
• 72 – Iron and steel – including sub chapters I, II, III, IV
• 73 – Articles of iron or steel
• 74 – Copper and articles thereof
• 75 – Nickel and articles thereof
• 76 – Aluminium and articles thereof
• 78 – Lead and articles thereof
• 79 – Zinc and articles thereof
• 80 – Tin and articles thereof
• 81 – Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof
• 82 – Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal
• 83 – Miscellaneous articles of base metals
• 84 – Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
• 85 – Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
• 86 – Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds
• 87 – Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof
• 88 – Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof
• 89 – Ships, boats and floating structures

Target risk goods

Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications have been categorised as target risk goods and are only subject to increased onshore intervention through random inspection. Mandatory treatment is not required.

• 27 – Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes
• 28 – Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes – including sub chapters I, II, III, IV and V
• 29 – Organic chemicals – including sub chapters I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII and XIII
• 38 – Miscellaneous chemical products
• 39 – Plastics and articles thereof – – including sub chapters I and II
• 40 – Rubber and articles thereof
• 48 – Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard
• 49 – Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans
• 56 – Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof

For all other goods that are not categorised as target high risk and target risk goods, BMSB seasonal measures do not apply. However, if they are part of a container or consignment that contains target high risk or target risk goods, they will be subject to the measures.

Measures for vessels

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 between 1 September 2022 and 30 April 2023 (inclusive) will be required to:

• Conduct self-inspections and respond to specific questions as part of the pre-arrival reporting requirements, and;
• Undergo a mandatory seasonal pest inspection on arrival in Australia.

Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme

The Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme (VSPS) is an alternative vessel clearance pathway for ro-ro vessels.

• Only ro-ro vessels that are eligible for the ‘Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme’ and have detected no insects on board will be exempted from the mandatory seasonal pest inspection.
• The department will continue to perform inspections on vessels for other biosecurity reasons unrelated to BMSB. The nature of these inspections will vary based on the biosecurity risk being managed.

For further information on the VSPS and BMSB seasonal measures for vessels, visit the Management of vessels web page.

Treatment types and rates for BMSB

Treatment Rates

There are three approved treatment options for BMSB treatment.

The approved treatments are:

Heat

For all goods types and sizes

• 56°C or higher at the coldest surface of the goods, for a minimum of 30 minutes
  or
• Alternative option for individual goods weighing less than 3000 kg shipped as break bulk only, 60°C or higher at the coldest surface of the goods, for a minimum of 10 minutes

Note: 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

• A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for a minimum of 12 hours (but less than 24 hours), and a minimum end point reading of 12 g/m³
  or
• A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for 24 hours or longer, and a minimum end point reading of 8 g/m³

Note:

• All start time concentration readings must be above 24 g/m³.
• 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

• A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for a minimum of 12 hours (but less than 24 hours), and a minimum end point reading of 12 g/m³
  or
• A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for 24 hours or longer, and a minimum end point reading of 8 g/m³

Note:

• All start time concentration readings must be above 24 g/m³.
• 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*

• Achieve a CT of 200 g-h/m³ or more, at 10°c or above, for 12 hours or longer, with a minimum end point reading of 12 g/m³
  or
• Achieve a CT of 200 g-h/m³ or more, at 10°C or above, for 24 hours or longer, with a minimum end point reading of 8 g/m³

*Note:

The approved stewardship program operators and their third party programs are:

• Douglas Products or their agents – FumiGuide
• Ensystex II, Inc. (USA) – Fumicalc
• Barcan Barcan Pest Control & Fumigation Co. (Barcan ilaclama Fumigasyon Tic. Ltd.Sti.) (Turkey) – FumiTrack

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 minimum standards 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.

Onshore treatment

Where onshore treatment of goods is permitted, you can find a list of approved arrangement providers on the department’s website.

Offshore treatment

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.

Further information can be found on the Offshore BMSB treatment providers scheme 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 be deemed as invalid and the goods will be subject to onshore treatment (if permitted) or 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 or shipped from any of the target risk counties are 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.

Fraudulent certificates

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 fraudulent documentation.

Any consignment identified with a fraudulent certificate will be directed for onshore treatment (if permitted) or exported.

See. Secure. Report.

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 online form.

Freightplus can help minimise the BMSB biosecurity risks on your cargo

For more information on our biosecurity services or on the upcoming BMSB season please contact your local Freightplus office.