Latest updates
- Added onshore treatment provider information
- Additional detail added regarding target high risk and target risk goods
- Added information on subscribing to Import Industry Advice Notices
- Added Frequently asked questions document
We introduce seasonal import measures to manage the risk of Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) during the high risk season.
Seasonal measures apply for goods shipped on or between 1 September and 30 April inclusive.
Risks
The Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is not found in Australia and needs to be kept out. It could severely impact our agricultural industries. Juveniles and adults feed on, and can severely damage, fruit and vegetable crops rendering them unsellable or reducing production yields. Adult BMSB can also be a nuisance, entering vehicles, homes and factories for shelter over winter.
They can arrive in Australia on cargo and containers shipped between September and April. This coincides with autumn and winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
Find out how to
identify and report brown marmorated stink bug.
2018-19 season measures
You must comply with seasonal measures for certain goods arriving from target risk countries that are shipped between 1 September 2018 and 30 April 2019 inclusive.
Details of the seasonal measures for the 2018-19 BSMB season are outlined below. Throughout the season we 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 in, or shipped from the target risk countries as sea cargo.
- Mandatory offshore treatment of target high risk goods shipped as break bulk. We also class goods shipped in open top containers or on flat rack containers as break bulk.
- Mandatory offshore or onshore treatment of target high risk goods shipped as containerised cargo in sealed six sided containers, such as FCL (full container load), FCX (full container consolidated), LCL (less than container load) and FAK (freight of all kinds). We class refrigerated containers (operating and non-operating) the same as six sided sealed containers.
- Containerised cargo with target high risk goods may be treated on arrival in Australia at the container level. Deconsolidation or removal of goods will not be permitted prior to 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.
For detailed information on how to prepare to import target high risk and risk goods during the season visit the Preparing to import page.
Vessels
Heightened surveillance on all roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) and general cargo vessels through additional pre-arrival reporting with a BMSB questionnaire and daily checks conducted by vessel masters.
Target risk countries
Any target high risk or target risk goods manufactured in, or shipped from these countries are subject to the BMSB seasonal measures.
Any vessel that tranships or loads goods from these countries are also subject to heightened vessel surveillance.
- United States of America
- Italy
- Germany
- France
- Russia
- Greece
- Hungary
- Romania
- Georgia
- Japan (heightened vessel surveillance will be the only measure applied).
Target high risk goods
Goods that fall within the following Department of Home Affairs tariff classifications have been categorised as target high risk goods and will require mandatory treatment for BMSB risk.
Target high risk goods that are shipped as break bulk (this includes goods shipped in open top or on flat rack containers) will require mandatory offshore treatment. Untreated target high risk goods shipped as break bulk will be directed for export on arrival.
Target high risk goods that are shipped in enclosed containers may be treated offshore or onshore at the whole container level. Deconsolidation or removal of goods will not be permitted prior to treatment.
The only exception for treatment at the whole container is if the goods have been shipped in a LCL/FAK container from a non-target risk country, where they will be allowed to deconsolidate and treated at the consignment level.
This may also be the case where we have allowed the goods to deconsolidate from an LCL/FAK container shipped from a target risk country where we have assessed the offshore treatment at the container level prior and allowed the goods to deconsolidate. In these circumstances, the goods will be directed for treatment at the consignment level.
If BMSB is detected on offshore treated goods on arrival, the goods will be directed for onshore re-treatment.
| 36 - Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations | 74 - Copper and articles thereof | 84 - Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof |
| 44 - Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal | 75 - Nickel and articles 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 |
| 45 - Cork and articles of cork | 76 - Aluminium and articles thereof | 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 |
| 57 - Carpets and other textile floor coverings | 78 - Lead and articles thereof | 87 - Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof |
| 68 - Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials | 79 - Zinc and articles thereof | 88 - Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof |
| 69 - Ceramic products – including sub chapters I and II | 80 - Tin and articles thereof | 89 - Ships, boats and floating structures |
| 70 – Glass and glass ware | 81 - Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof | 93 - Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof |
| 72 - Iron and steel - including sub chapters I, II, III, IV | 82 - Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal | |
| 73 - Articles of iron or steel | 83 - Miscellaneous articles of base metals | |
Target risk goods
Goods that fall within the following Department of Home Affairs tariff classifications have been categorised as target risk goods and will not require mandatory treatment however will be subject to increased onshore intervention through random inspection.
If BMSB is detected the goods will be directed for onshore treatment.
| 25 - Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement | 31 - Fertilisers | 47 - Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard |
| 26 - Ores, slag and ash | 38 - Miscellaneous chemical products | 48 - Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard |
| 27 - Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes | 39 - Plastics and articles thereof - – including sub chapters I and II | 49 - Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans |
| 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 | 40 - Rubber and articles thereof | 56 - Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof |
| 29 - Organic chemicals - including sub chapters I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII and X111 | 46 - Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basket ware and wickerwork | |
All other goods
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.
Treatments
Treatment options
- heat treatment
- methyl bromide fumigation
- sulfuryl fluoride fumigation.
Treatment rates
Heat
- At 50°C or higher for at least 20 minutes. Note: the minimum temperature of the coldest part of the treated goods should reach at least 50 °C for at least 20 minutes.
Methyl Bromide
- A dose of 16 g/m3 or above, at 15°C or above, for 12 hours or longer, with an end point reading of 50% or more of the initial concentration. Note: this minimum temperature is 5°C higher than the sulfuryl fluoride conditions.
Sulfuryl Fluoride
There are two sets of rates for sulfuryl fluoride treatments.
Treatment providers not using an approved third party program*:
- A dose of 24 g/m3 or above, at 10oC or above, for 12 hours or longer, with a minimum end point concentration of 12 g/m3.
or
- A dose of 16 g/m3 or above, at 10oC or above, for 24 hours or longer, with a minimum end point concentration of 8 g/m3.
Treatment providers using an approved third party program*:
- Achieve a CT of 200 g-h/m3 or more, while conducting the treatment at 10°C or above, for 12 hours or longer, with a minimum end point concentration of 12 g/m3.
or
- Achieve a CT of 200 g-h/m3 or more, while conducting the treatment at 10oC or above, for 24 hours or longer, with a minimum end point concentration of 8 g/m3.
*The approved third party programs are:
- Douglas Products Fumiguide
- Ensystex II, Inc Fumicalc
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 BMSB Treatment Providers
Where onshore treatment is permitted, to find out where onshore treatments may be performed, visit our list of approved arrangement sites.
Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme
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.
Treatment providers who meet the requirements of the scheme will be added to our
approved list of treatment providers.
Treatment providers in target risk countries
All BMSB treatment providers in France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Russia and the United States of America must register with us.
Treatments conducted by an unregistered treatment provider in a target risk country will not be recognised as valid and the goods will be subject to onshore treatment (if allowed), export or destruction.
Treatment providers in non-target risk countries
Treatment providers in other countries who intend to conduct BMSB treatments for goods that are manufactured in France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Russia or the United States of America are also encouraged to
register.
Treatment certificates from providers in non-target risk countries who do not register will be accepted. These goods will be subject to increased intervention 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
Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme.
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 or destroyed.
Fraudulent certificates
For treatments conducted in target risk countries, we will only accept BMSB treatment certificates from approved list of treatment providers.
We have developed a system to monitor and detect the use of fraudulent certificates.
We will identify consignments that arrive in Australia with a fraudulent certificate. We will also target consignments with a certificate from a treatment provider that is not approved.
These consignments will either be:
- exported, or
- destroyed, in an approved manner.
Industry consultation
We held Industry information sessions in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane during August 2018. During these sessions we provided details on the final measures and provided industry opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions about the measures.
We have also developed a frequently asked questions document, to answer the most common types of questions asked at the industry information sessions and received though the air and sea cargo inbox.
Download
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit
web accessibility for help.
Further information
We provide information on changes to import requirements, including updates on Brown marmorated stink bug seasonal measures, through our Import Industry Advice Notices.
Click to subscribe to Import Industry Advice Notices
For further information regarding BMSB measures, please contact us at Air and Sea Cargo.