1 September 2021
Who does this notice affect?
Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including Master Consolidators, vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers and principal agents—associated with shipping or importing goods that require increased intervention during the 2021-22 BMSB risk season.
What has changed?
For the 2021-22 BMSB risk season, seasonal measures will apply to:
- targeted goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries.
- vessels that berth at, load or tranship from target risk countries.
The measures apply to goods that have been shipped between 1 September 2021 and 30 April 2022 (inclusive).
Poland has been added as a target risk country. Malta has been added as an emerging risk country.
Chapter tariffs 36 and 93 have been removed from the target high risk list and 25, 26, 31, 46 and 47 from the target risk list.
Master Consolidator Identification (MC ID) Registration and Declarations
Less than Container Load (LCL) consignments and Freight of All Kinds (FAK) containers with target high risk goods, are managed at the container level.
Master Consolidators are required to register with the department and be allocated an individual Master Consolidator Identification number (MC ID). This MC ID must be used for all declarations made for the LCL/FAK process during the BMSB risk season.
Previously registered MCs do not need to re-register for this season. Please ensure registration details are up to date. For queries on registration details or updates please email spp@awe.gov.au.
Reminder that each MC must use their own unique ID when lodging a declaration.
Registration and further information including how to lodge a declaration is available on the Management of LCL/ FAK webpage.
Safeguarding
The Safeguarding Arrangements Scheme (the scheme) is available for the 2021-22 BMSB Season. The scheme offers an alternative clearance pathway for goods imported as sea cargo in six hard sided shipping containers during the BMSB risk season.
To assist applicants, the application form has been slimmed down and improved.
New minimum requirements to be considered for the Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme have been highlighted such as indoor storage between manufacturing and exportation, and the goods must now be transported in a fully enclosed six hard sided container.
Safeguarding Arrangements applications for the 2021-22 season are now open. Further information can be found on the Safeguarding webpage.
Offshore Treatment Providers Scheme
The department and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries will again manage the Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme aligning treatment options, rates and compliance requirements.
All BMSB treatment providers in target risk countries must be registered under the scheme to be able to conduct BMSB treatments. Treatments conducted by an unapproved treatment provider in a target risk country will not be recognised as valid and will be referred for intervention on arrival.
Treatment providers in non-BMSB target risk countries who will be regularly conducting BMSB treatments are encouraged to register onto the offshore BMSB treatment providers scheme.
Treatment providers that were registered during the 2020-21 BMSB season must complete a renewal application for the 2021-22 season. The application to become an approved offshore BMSB treatment provider under the 2021-22 Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme can be found on the Offshore BMSB treatments webpage.
As treatment providers are approved, they will be listed on the List of Offshore Treatment Providers webpage.
Treatment reporting requirements - AEI
- The Entity Identifier (AEI) number will again play a key role in identifying target high risk goods that have been treated for BMSB concerns offshore during the 2021-22 BMSB season.
- Customs Brokers must enter the AEI for any treatments performed by an offshore BMSB treatment provider.
- The AEI is now required to only be entered against the first tariff line of the import declaration. The only exception is for BMSB treatments of break bulk cargo, where the AEI still needs to be entered against every line of target high risk goods.
- Please refer to the AEI reporting web page and guide to assist customs brokers and self-reporting importers with the reporting requirements for the AEI number.
Further information
Further information regarding BMSB seasonal measures, can be found on the BMSB webpage agriculture.gov.au/bmsb or for policy information email spp@agriculture.gov.au
- The Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) hitchhiker pest BICON case has been updated for the 2021-22 risk season and will be published shortly.
- 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.