29 August 2025
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 2025-26 BMSB risk season.
What has changed?
- Addition of Republic of Korea and Japan to the emerging risk countries list
- Target high risk goods arriving as airfreight from United States of America and China will be subject to random inspections.
- Addition of a NEW offshore BMSB treatment option Ethyl Formate.
- New application process for the BMSB In-Transit and Rolled policy.
The department’s BMSB webpage has been updated to reflect the updated measures.
Safeguarding
The Safeguarding Arrangements Scheme (the scheme) is available for the new BMSB Season. The scheme offers an alternative clearance pathway for target high risk goods imported as sea cargo in six hard sided shipping containers during the BMSB risk season.
Safeguarding Arrangements applications for the 2025-26 season are now open. Further information can be found on the Safeguarding webpage. For further information email safeguarding@aff.gov.au.
AusTreat
AusTreat is a government-to-industry assurance scheme that sets the conditions for the regulation of pre-border biosecurity treatment providers.
AusTreat increases the department’s coverage and flexibility in responding to biosecurity risk through increased assurance of pre-border treatments, reducing intervention at the border and eliminating the need to develop new pest specific schemes.
Ethyl Formate
The introduction of Ethyl Formate as an approved BMSB treatment will be phased, beginning with the approval for offshore use only. Offshore treatment providers who wish to conduct Ethyl Formate fumigations must be registered with the department under the AusTreat assurance scheme. A registration form is available on the AusTreat webpage.
For further information on pre-border biosecurity treatment providers and approved BMSB treatment types, visit the AusTreat webpage or email offshoretreatments@aff.gov.au.
Approved arrangement class 19 - Ethyl Formate
Class 19 accredited persons are required to report consignments treated with Ethyl Formate when lodging the import declaration. The method for reporting will be via the Entity Identifier (AEI) field in the Integrated Cargo System or 3rd party software. The generic AEI ‘TREATEDEF’ must be entered when Ethyl Formate has been used. For full requirements refer to the Entity Identifier webpage.
Further information
Further information regarding BMSB seasonal measures, can be found on the BMSB webpage agriculture.gov.au/bmsb or for policy information email hpp@aff.gov.au.
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.