This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the draft pest risk analysis report for brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys).
The draft pest risk analysis report identifies brown marmorated stink bug as a pest that requires risk management measures in order to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia, where the risk is reduced to a very low level.
The draft report is being issued for a 60 calendar day stakeholder consultation period. Written comments and submissions are invited by 27 October 2017.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the department) has prepared a draft pest risk analysis report for brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys).
The department initiated this pest-specific risk analysis following the introduction of emergency measures that were implemented in response to increased detections of brown marmorated stink bug at the Australian border and changes in the international status of this pest. The introduction of the emergency measures for specific sea freight consignments was advised in Biosecurity Advice Notice 2015-01 on 30 January 2015. Related industry advice notices have provided details on the emergency measures and can be found on the department's website.
Brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive pest that has spread from its native range in East Asia to form established populations in North America and Europe. In December 2014, very large numbers of brown marmorated stink bug began arriving to Australia with goods imported from the United States of America. These infestations were difficult to manage at the border and presented an increased biosecurity risk for Australia.
The risk analysis assessed the likelihood of entry, establishment and spread of brown marmorated stink bug as a hitchhiker on imported goods, and the consequences if it was to establish and spread in Australia. The likelihood of the pest entering, establishing and spreading was assessed for two different time periods, for goods originating from countries in both the northern and southern hemispheres. These were based on the seasonal habits of the brown marmorated stink bug.
This draft report proposes that the importation of goods into Australia from all countries with established brown marmorated stink bug populations be permitted, subject to a range of biosecurity conditions.
This draft report proposes a range of risk management measures, combined with operational systems, to reduce the biosecurity risks posed by brown marmorated stink bugs on imported goods and achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia. Depending on the type of good and its origin, the risk management measures proposed may include:
- enhanced surveillance
- sulfuryl fluoride fumigation
- methyl bromide fumigation
- heat treatment
- approved safeguarding arrangements.
The proposed measures are consistent with the emergency measures currently in place to manage brown marmorated stink bug on imported goods.
This draft report and information about the risk analysis process are available from the department's website. Printed copies of the report are available upon request.
Lodging a submission
There is no specific format for submissions, but they must be in writing, and identify the relevant technical biosecurity issues being raised with supporting evidence. Preferably, submissions should be in Microsoft Word or other text-based formats and lodged electronically via email or the online submission form, but postal submissions are acceptable. Submissions should be received by the department within the stated comment period.
Submissions may be lodged via the following methods:
- the department’s website using the online form
- email to Plant Biosecurity
- mail to:
Plant Sciences and Risk Assessment
Biosecurity Plant Division
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
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Privacy
The department requests that, at a minimum, you provide your name and contact details with your submission. Please indicate if you do not wish to have personal information published with your submission or disclosed to third parties.
Any personal information collected by the department as part of your submission will be used and disclosed by the department for the purposes stated in the Biosecurity Advice. Your personal information will be used to enable the department to contact you about your submission and may be disclosed to specialists, other Commonwealth government agencies, State or Territory government agencies or foreign government departments. Unless you request otherwise, the department may publish your personal information on the department’s website.
The department will handle your personal information in a manner consistent with relevant laws, in particular the Privacy Act 1988. Your personal information will be used and stored consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles and as outlined in the department’s Privacy Policy.
Confidentiality
Subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988, content of submissions may be made public, unless you state you want all or part of your submission to be treated as confidential. A claim for confidentiality must be justified and provided as an attachment, marked ‘Confidential’. ‘Confidential’ material will not be made public. The department reserves the right not to publish submissions.
No breach of confidence will occur if the department shares your submission with a third party referred to under ‘Privacy’ in seeking advice in response to your submission.
Intellectual property
Responsibility for compliance with Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in submissions rests with the author(s). In lodging a submission, you warrant you have not knowingly infringed any third party IPR. By lodging a submission, you grant the Commonwealth a permanent, irrevocable, royalty-free, world-wide, non-exclusive licence to use, copy, reproduce, adapt, communicate and exploit all or any of the material contained in the submission.
Dr Marion Healy
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Contact: Peter Creaser
Telephone: +61 2 6272 5094
Email: Plant Biosecurity