30 August 2019
Who does this notice affect?
Industry stakeholders that are associated with imported goods subject to the department’s 2019-20 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) seasonal biosecurity risk measures. This notice is specifically relevant to Biosecurity Industry Participants (BIPs) holding approved arrangement (AA) class 4.1 heat treatment (site), approved arrangement sites authorised to receive, store and treat containers subject to the 2019-20 BMSB seasonal risk measures, and industry operators seeking departmental approval as a heat treatment provider.
Purpose
To advise industry of:
- implementation of the:
- new approved arrangement class 12.3 – heat treatment
- revised approved arrangement class 4.1 – heat treatment site
- new approved arrangement class 4.7 – secure unpack for treatment of seasonal biosecurity pests
- changes to existing class 4.1 approved arrangement conditions and how the department will manage these changes
- application process for existing approved arrangement sites seeking approval for class 4.1 where already approved for fumigation treatment to manage BMSB.
What has changed?
New arrangement classes
The Department of Agriculture and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries have (jointly) developed a new Heat Treatment Methodology which expands the type of enclosures within which heat treatment can be performed from chamber only to include sheeted and containerised. The department has developed a new class of approved arrangement (AA class 12.3) to facilitate ‘mobile’ heat treatment operations, much like is currently in place for fumigation treatment.
The department has also developed a class of approved arrangement (AA class 4.7) that allows for secure unpack of containers subject to the 2019-20 BMSB measures, where treatment at the container level has been deemed unsuitable.
Industry can now apply for these arrangements with the department. For existing approved arrangement holders this can be done through an application to vary your existing approved arrangement.
Revised AA class 4.1 conditions
Conditions for approved arrangement class 4.1 have been modified to remove heat treatment processes now prescribed in the class 12.3. Existing approved arrangement class 4.1 sites are impacted by these changes and will be managed by the department as detailed below.
Application for AA class 12.3, 4.7 and 4.1
Industry can now apply for the:
- new approved arrangement class 12.3, which is needed to administer heat treatment of goods subject to biosecurity control including containers requiring treatment for BMSB
- new approved arrangement class 4.7, which is specific to the BMSB risk measures and enables unpack of containers within a secure environment for the purpose of rectifying issues preventing treatment at the container level i.e. due to impervious materials, insufficient free air space preventing adequate circulation of gas/hot air or correct placement of monitoring lines.
- (revised) approved arrangement class 4.1, which specifies conditions for site infrastructure needed to support heat treatment that must only be administered by a BIP holding approved arrangement class 12.3. Please see below process for existing AA class 4.1 sites.
Information relating to the application process and the approved arrangement conditions for class 12.3, 4.1 or 4.7 approval can be found on the department’s Approved Arrangement webpage.
Important note: Only a treatment provider operating under class 12.3 can administer the heat treatment to manage risks associated with imported goods, with the activity required to be performed only at a class 4.1 site. Sites already approved for class 4.1 are required to hold approved arrangement class 12.3 in order to continue to administer the treatment themselves.
Management of existing sites holding approved arrangement class 4.1
The department’s Approved Arrangement section will contact BIPs operating existing class 4.1 sites through a targeted process to communicate how these changes will impact their individual arrangements.
Approval process for existing approved arrangement sites applying to add class 4.1
BIPs operating an approved arrangement site must apply to add class 4.1 in order to facilitate heat treatment activities under the 2019-20 BMSB risk season.
At time of application for class 4.1, applicants should identify whether the area within which heat treatments will be carried out onsite is currently a department approved fumigation area.
Arrangement consultation
Industry were advised of development of the approved arrangement classes that support the 2019-20 BMSB risk season through various industry stakeholder workshops and recently published Import Industry Advice Notice 128-2019.
Further information
If you require further information please contact Approved Arrangements section at AA Canberra