Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) Safeguarding Arrangements Scheme

Applications are open from 31 July to 30 January and submissions must be complete before assessment can begin. Applying for the scheme does not automatically result in approval being granted.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate the following as part of their application. Please consider whether you and your supply chain can meet each of these requirements prior to applying for the scheme.

• Goods must be imported into Australia by a single importing entity that has a valid Australian Company Number (ACN) and/or Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Goods must be transported in a sealed six hard sided shipping container.
• Goods must be stored indoors between manufacture and export to Australia.
• Mitigation processes must be established (and demonstrated) throughout the supply chain to safeguard the goods from exposure to and contamination by BMSB, exotic pests and other biosecurity risks.
• Contingency processes must be established (and demonstrated) that can be deployed immediately in the event BMSB is detected at any point in the supply chain.
• Container unpack location in Australia must be in a metropolitan location according to the department’s Postcode delivery classifications webpage.
• If approved, all staff operating across the supply chain must undergo appropriate Biosecurity Awareness training which includes BMSB identification. If approved, the department will provide a Hitchhiker Awareness Information Package to assist with this requirement.
• Within 60 days of receiving formal approval for the current season, all approved applicants must conduct and submit at least one supply chain compliance audit for each individual supply chain (including all manufacturing and storage sites), confirming operations adhere to the supply chain plan approved by the department.

Potential mitigation processes and actions may include, but are not limited to:

• Ensuring secure packaging right after production.
• Products are maintained at stable temperatures below 5°C (41°F) from the time of production until they reach Australia.
• Thorough inspection protocols during storage and loading to guarantee that areas and goods are free of BMSB and other pests.
• Pest treatments encompassing insecticidal fogging as well as residual insecticide applications.
• Inspections for pests conducted by certified professionals.

Applications for the scheme are not available to:

• Onshore supply chains or sites located in Australia.
• Goods transported as breakbulk (BB) including flat rack and open top and modified containers.
• Goods transported in Less than Container Load (LCL) and Freight of All Kinds (FAK) containers.
• Goods stored outdoors.
  Note: Supply chains with an outdoor storage component, may be considered on a case-by-case basis, only where applicants can clearly demonstrate that outdoor exposure is minimal (less than 120 hours) and extensive, robust and actively monitored biosecurity risk management procedures are in place.
• Complex supply chains, such as those encompassing goods obtained from multiple manufactures, supplier’s distributors and/or with shipping to multiple importers.
• Distribution centres.
• Supply chains that include rural unpack locations in Australia.
• Supply chains shipping from BMSB non target risk countries.

Approved Importers must:

• Ensure all processes and actions outlined in the Safeguarding agreement are followed to ensure goods exported to Australia are free from BMSB.
• Maintain effective oversight of the supply chain to ensure that all processes and actions in the supply chain plan are undertaken as detailed in the approved application.
• Manage the unpack of goods imported into Australia in a metro area.
• Within 60 days of receiving formal approval for the current season, conduct and submit at least one supply chain compliance audit for each individual supply chain (including all manufacturing and storage sites), confirming operations adhere to the supply chain plan approved by the department.
• Notify the Safeguarding team immediately if pest detections are made at any stage in the supply chain.

If you SEE any biosecurity concerns, SECURE the goods and immediately and REPORT to Biosecurity Reports on 1800 798 636.

SEE. SECURE. REPORT

Applications for the department's Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme are open for submission annually between 31 July and 30 January via the ‘Application for BMSB Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme’ form.

To support the application, applicants must provide the following information for each supplier ID when submitting the application:

• Completed application form
• Supply chain plan/flowchart clearly identifying all manufacturing, storage and unpack sites.
• Supply Chain Mitigation and Contingency Plan for each individual supply chain pathway, which includes supporting documentation from any third-party premises utilised in the supply chain.
• Pest management plan for each site in the supply chain.
• A minimum of 6 images per site. Images must adequately show the inside and outside of each site listed (manufacture/storage/unpacking).

Note: All documentation must be presented on company letter head, dated and signed by a company representative and in English.

A Supply Chain Compliance Audit is a critical process that ensures all components of an organisation’s supply chain are aligned with biosecurity standards, particularly in mitigating the risk of BMSB and other exotic pests and diseases.

Each site included in the approved supply chain plan, must undergo an audit and reports must demonstrate the supply chain is compliant with the requirements of the Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme.

Every site listed in the approved supply chain plan must be audited. These audits must demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme.

Once formal approval is granted for the current season, applicants have 60 days to arrange and submit at least one audit covering the entire supply chain. This includes all manufacturing, storage, and third-party sites. The audit must confirm that operational processes of the supply chain align with those approved by the department.

If multiple suppliers or supply chain pathways are used, each one must be audited individually. While an independent, unbiased auditor is preferred, a senior employee—such as a Quality Assurance Manager—may conduct the audit if necessary. In such cases, the reason for not using an independent auditor must be clearly stated.

Before the audit begins, auditors should be provided with the approved supply chain application and details of mitigation and contingency processes. This ensures they understand the scheme’s requirements and the biosecurity measures that should be in place.

The audit report should include the auditor’s name, credentials, and position. If the auditor is internal, the report must explain why an independent auditor was not used. It should also include a brief description of the report’s purpose, an overview of the supply chain pathway, and a summary of current biosecurity practices at all sites. A list of reviewed documents should be included, along with verification that the premises operate as described in the application, are clean and pest-free, and that external areas are maintained to deter pests like BMSB.

The report must confirm that all supply chain procedures across all premises are being followed, outline any corrective actions taken to address non-compliance, and describe the reporting procedures for biosecurity risks. It should also assess whether the mitigation and contingency measures are sufficient to ensure goods arrive in Australia free from BMSB. A summary of findings must be included, and the report must be signed and dated on official letterhead. Supporting documents must be current, and evidence that staff have completed Hitchhiker Awareness Training should be provided. Photos may also be included to support the findings.

Failure to submit the audit report within 60 days may lead to increased verification checks or suspension from the scheme until the report is reviewed. Any non-compliance identified in the audit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The scheme offers an alternative pathway for importers seeking to avoid compulsory treatment when importing goods classified under the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) target high-risk tariffs list. The scheme is only available to goods manufactured in and exported from target risk countries, provided they are shipped in sealed six hard sided containers. Refer to Seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB).

Potential benefits of the scheme may include:

• Reduced costs: Removing the requirement for compulsory fumigation during the season can lower the overall cost of importing high-risk goods.
• Greater flexibility: The scheme supports year-round imports of goods that may be damaged by current BMSB treatment methods.

It is important to note that all consignments under this scheme are subject to 100% documentation assessment in addition to random verification inspections, which replace the mandatory treatment requirement. These activities are cost-recovered by the department. Additional fees and charges may also apply from wharves and Approved Arrangement (AA) premises to facilitate the inspection process.

Importers are encouraged to review their current business practices to determine whether the costs associated with document assessment and random inspections offer a more cost-effective alternative to treatment expenses. Participation in the scheme is voluntary, and applicants may withdraw at any time if the scheme does not meet expectations or if their business needs change.

Applications are submitted online via the ‘Application for BMSB Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme’ form.

• Step 1: Applicant submits a completed application form and all supporting documentation.
• Step 2: The application and supporting documentation is assessed by the Safeguarding team, additional information will be requested for further assessment from the applicant if required. Application submissions without the required information may be rejected, and a new, complete submission will be required.
• Step 3: If approved, the department will determine the appropriate import conditions and advise the applicant of the decision.

The online application form has a 50 MB limit and accepts a maximum 32 files. Accepted filetypes include: gif, jpg, png, bmp, pict, txt, rtf, html, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, zip.

Application assessments can be complex, and processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the importers supply chain.

Approvals can only be issued once all requested information has been submitted by the applicant and assessed as satisfactory.

To help ensure a timely assessment, the department encourages applicants to provide all required and relevant information at the time of application.

Standard assessment times range from 10 to 20 business days, starting from the date all necessary and/or additionally requested information has been received.

Please note: Approvals are only valid for consignments shipped on or after the date of approval. They cannot be backdated. Consignments shipped or in transit prior to receiving approval will be subject to the standard Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) seasonal measures upon arrival.

The Mitigation and Contingency Plan is an essential assessment requirement for the application process. Effective risk mitigation processes address the biosecurity measures and controls in each stage of the supply chain (manufacture , storage, transport and shipping etc.). Contingency processes define the steps to be followed in the event of a BMSB contamination incident and will be different to the mitigation processes used to prevent risks from occurring in the first place.

The department will assess the steps and considerations (relevant to the applicant’s business requirements) on how an occurrence of BMSB would be treated if discovered at any point in the supply chain.

Indoor storage is the department’s preferred standard and a critical requirement for eligibility under the Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme. Overseas suppliers with outdoor storage sites are generally not accepted due to the increased biosecurity risk posed by BMSB and other hitchhiking pests.

In limited circumstances, supply chains with an outdoor storage component may still be considered on a case-by-case basis. This is only possible where applicants can clearly demonstrate that:

• Outdoor exposure is minimal (typically less than 120 hours), and
• Extensive, robust, and actively monitored biosecurity risk management procedures are in place.

These procedures must effectively mitigate the risk of BMSB contamination during any period of outdoor exposure. Applicants must provide detailed evidence of protective measures, monitoring protocols, and compliance practices to support their case.

Each application is assessed on its individual merits, and approval will only be granted where the department is fully satisfied that the risk of BMSB contamination is effectively and consistently mitigated throughout the entire supply chain.

Note: Supply chains who cannot demonstrate this level of assurance, will not be deemed eligible for the scheme. Even where comprehensive supporting evidence is provided, acceptance of outdoor storage remains at the discretion of the department.

Once approval is granted, importers will receive an approval confirmation email and a clearance letter from the department. Following approval, importers must ensure the following requirements are met:

• A copy of the most recent clearance letter and a completed safeguarding declaration must be provided to the customs broker, along with all relevant import documentation, for each eligible consignment.
  The safeguarding declaration confirms that all safeguarded goods in the consignment have been sourced exclusively from the approved supply chain.
• Provide supply chain staff Hitchhiker Awareness training within 60 days of approval. The department will provide a Hitchhiker Awareness Information Package slideshow to assist with this training requirement. Evidence of this training must be submitted as part of the supply chain compliance audit.
• A supply chain compliance audit must be completed and submitted to the department for all sites in the approved supply chain within 60 days of approval. Refer to the Supply Chain Compliance Audit section for further details.

Upon lodgement of the Full Import Declaration (FID), each consignment will be subject to documentation assessment. A portion of the importer's safeguarded consignments will be selected for a random verification inspection. These random verification inspections allow the department to assess the effectiveness of the supply chain’s biosecurity controls. The results also support continuous improvement of the department’s biosecurity regulatory practices.

Consignments containing both safeguarded and non-safeguarded BMSB-risk goods will be assessed at the highest risk level. In cases where non safeguarded BMSB risk goods arrive untreated, mandatory BMSB treatment at the container level will be required. Deconsolidation or removal of goods prior to treatment is not permitted.

Note: Customs brokers are not permitted to use the department’s Approved Arrangement – Class 19.2 Automatic Entry Processing (AEP) for commodities – to clear goods imported under the Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme.