Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Industry advice notices
  5. 2023
  6. 05-2023

Sidebar first - Import

  • Industry advice notices
    • 2025
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021

05-2023: Cessation to Temporary Brown Marmorated Stink bug (BMSB) measures for Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) vessels from China

11/01/2023

Who does this notice affect?

Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers and principal agents—associated with shipping or importing goods that are subject to increased intervention during the 2022-23 BMSB risk season, and vessels on 2022-23 BMSB season Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme (VSPS).

What has changed?

The purpose of this advice notice is to:

  • Provide an update on the temporary heightened measures for RoRo vessels from China, in relation to Import Industry Notice 216-2022: Management of vessels during the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) risk season: Temporary measures for Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) vessels from China

Cessation of temporary mandatory measures for RoRo vessels from China

To manage the increased detections of exotic stinkbugs on RoRo vessels, on 2 November 2022 the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) introduced a temporary intervention measure for RoRo vessels carrying cargo from Chinese ports.

All RoRo vessels with cargo loaded from China were directed to conduct:

  • A BMSB routine vessel inspection (RVI), followed by mandatory pyrethrum (pyfog) fogging and residual insecticide spray, with a follow up seasonal pest inspection (SPI).

The department ceased this temporary measure on 9 January 2023

Upon submission of mandatory pre-arrival reporting, RoRo vessels with loaded with cargo from Chinese ports are now subject to same seasonal pest measures as for other vessels. The department’s National Maritime Centre (NMC) officers will advise, through Biosecurity Status Document (BSD) issued from Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS), specific biosecurity risk mitigation measures that are required.

Should detections of BMSB or other exotic seasonal pests increase along this entry pathway, the department may resume this additional measure.

The department requests vessel masters and crew to remain vigilant for BMSB and other hitchhiker pests, and to report any findings to the department at the earliest time possible.

Further information

We encourage you to check our website, or contact VSPS at safeguarding@aff.gov.au if you have any questions.

Contact the department’s National Maritime Centre (MNCC) by email or phone 1300 004 605 (in Australia) or +61 8 8201 6185 (outside Australia).

Information on pre-arrival reporting for maritime vessels can be found on the department’s website under Vessels.

Vessel reporting requirements and the Biosecurity Act 2015

Vessel masters and shipping agents are reminded:

  • To read and understand the Biosecurity Status Document (BSD) directions and conditions and keep a copy of the current document on board the vessel for the duration of the voyage in Australia.
  • Any changes in circumstances during the voyage in Australian waters, particularly changes to the human health of travelers or reporting pests and diseases, must be submitted via MARS or reported to the NMC as soon as practicable.
  • That a failure to report accurately or comply with a requirement under the Biosecurity Act may result in penalties, including infringement notices, civil penalties or criminal prosecutions.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 23 September 2024

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram