25 August 2025
Who does this notice affect?
Stakeholders in the shipping industry - including vessel masters, shipping agents and Biosecurity Industry Participants-associated with vessels that have berthed, loaded or transhipped via BMSB target risk countries during the BMSB season.
What has changed?
The 2025-26 BMSB season commences 1 September 2025.
All Ro-Ro vessels will be issued a Seasonal Pest Questionnaire (SPQ) between 1 September and 30 June (inclusive) as part of their pre-arrival reporting to assess if they have berthed, loaded or transhipped via target risk countries during the BMSB season.
Key changes for this season include:
- Updated Seasonal Pest Questionnaire (SPQ):
Vessel masters will notice a revised SPQ with additional questions designed to improve pest risk assessment. These include:- The reporting of any insects detected during the entire voyage to Australia.
- Confirming whether the vessel is carrying cargo loaded from target risk countries visited since the last voyage to Australia.
- Indicating whether pest-proof netting is installed on any or all air vents.
All Ro-Ro vessels will be required to perform at least one crew vessel inspection. Where insects are detected, the vessel will be required to perform two additional inspections over 48 hours.
All ro-ro vessels that berth at, load, or tranship in target risk countries between 1 September and 30 April (inclusive) will be required to:
- Conduct at least one crew inspection and respond to specific questions as part of the pre-arrival reporting requirements; and
- Undergo a mandatory seasonal pest inspection on arrival in Australia.
A crew vessel inspection is an inspection performed by the ship’s crew of the vessel and its cargo for hitchhiker pests. All findings must be reported via the mandatory SPQ.
Other vessels must report the detection of any insects as part of their ordinary pre-arrival reporting. When BMSB or other actionable exotic species are reported, the vessels will be directed to perform a crew vessel inspection.
Further information
Vessel operators and shipping agents are reminded of the following
- All insects detected during the entire voyage to Australia must be reported to the department. Insects should be collected, photographed and stored in the refrigerator for submission to the departed when submitting the vessels Pre Arrival Reporting and Seasonal Pest Questionnaire documentation. Where insects are detected after the PAR and SPQ submission, vessels are required to update the department via email to the National Maritime Centre maritimenc@aff.gov.au.
- The application of thermal fogging and or residual insecticide, is not recognised an approved treatment method by the department. Whether performed voluntarily prior to arrival or directed by the department when exotic pest risks are present, the use of thermal fogging is strictly used as an agitate that is used to aid in inspections to determine the risk level posed by the vessel.
- Shipping lines and vessels are encouraged to undertake any safeguarding measures they deem suitable to mitigate and mange hitchhiker pests prior to arrival and submission of their PAR. This may include the application of thermal fogging and or insecticides and the installation of pest proof netting on air vents to prevent cross contamination between decks.
Further information on the seasonal measures for vessels can be found on our website here or by emailing HPP@aff.gov.au.
Information on pre-arrival reporting for maritime vessels can be found on the department’s website under Vessels, or by contacting the department’s National Maritime Centre (NMC) by email or phone 1300 004 605 (in Australia) or +61 8 8201 6185 (outside Australia).