Australian Brown marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSBs) requirements

BMSBs pose a high biosecurity risk to Australia. This is an invasive pest, native to Asia, and is highly capable of hitchhiking, highly mobile in nature and lack of effective lures. They can severely impact the Australian agricultural industries as well as a nuisance pest to homes, vehicles and factories, seeking shelter in these areas over the winter. They are more frequently found on goods arriving in Australia between September and April, coinciding with the late autumn and winter seasons in the northern hemisphere. 

Due to the high risks posed by BMSBs, the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has introduced seasonal measures to manage these risks. These seasonal measures will apply between 1 September 2018 and 30 April 2019; both dates inclusive.

Vessels

Heightened surveillance on all roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) and general cargo vessels through additional pre-arrival reporting with a BMSB questionnaire and daily checks conducted by vessel masters.

Target risk countries 

Any target high risk or target risk goods manufactured in, or shipped from these countries are subject to the BMSB seasonal measures.  Any vessel that tranships or loads goods from these countries are also subject to heightened vessel surveillance:

• United States of America
• Italy
• Germany
• France
• Russia
• Greece
• Hungary
• Romania
• Georgia
• Japan (heightened vessel surveillance will be the only measure applied).

Target high risk or target risk goods 

Some goods manufactured in, or shipped from the target risk countries as sea cargo have been identified as target high risk or target risk goods. To view the list as well as how these goods should be subject to BMSB treatments, please click on this DAWR link here 

Throughout the season, the measures based on detections of BMSB and the risk pathways would be continuously reviewed.

New Zealand BMSB requirements

For BMST requirements in New Zealand, please to the Biosecurity New Zealand website

Chilean BMSB requirements

Servicio Agricola y Ganadero (SAG) Resolution No. 971/2018 (Spanish only)

Members operating ships to Australia, New Zealand and Chile are urged to familiarise themselves of the above BMSB requirements and compliance.

Updated measures for 2024/25 for Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs ( BMSBs)  - A quick summary 

The main changes to the BMSBs measures are as follows: 

• The addition of China and Republic of Korea to the heightened vessel surveillance list which covers also Japan.
• Introduction of AusTreat for offshore treatment providers. Offshore treatment providers from BMSB target risk countries that intend to conduct treatments during the BMSB season must register under AusTreat.
• Removal of the Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme (VSPS).

Please refer to Import Industry Advice Notice 190-2024

Joint-measures by Australia and New Zealand to keep out Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs ( BMSBs). 

There has been an increasing widespread of the BMSBs throughout Europe and North America. In response to that and to keep these bugs out of their countries, New Zealand and Australia have come together to tighten up their measures to ensure that seasonal measures in place are consistent whenever possible to make compliance easier for vessels carrying cargoes to these countries. 

They have introduced a joint ‘Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme’. A list of approved treatment providers for the 2024/25 BMSB risk season is jointly maintained by New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Department of Agriculture in Australia and published on both websites.

Note also that the list of targeted list of countries having BMSBs and China and United Kingdom being identified as emerging risk countries for the 2024/2025 season.

Australian Brown marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSBs) requirements

BMSBs pose a high biosecurity risk to Australia. This is an invasive pest, native to Asia, and is highly capable of hitchhiking, highly mobile in nature and lack of effective lures. They can severely impact the Australian agricultural industries as well as a nuisance pest to homes, vehicles and factories, seeking shelter in these areas over the winter. They are more frequently found on goods arriving in Australia between September and April, coinciding with the late autumn and winter seasons in the northern hemisphere. 

BMSB seasonal measures will apply to targeted goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries, that have been shipped between 1 September and 30 April (inclusive), and to vessels that berth, load, or tranship from target risk countries within the same period.

Note: The shipped on board date, as indicated on the Ocean Bill of Lading, is the date used to determine when goods have been shipped. “Gate in” dates and times will not be accepted to determine when goods are shipped.

BMSB Measures for vessels

Basically 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.

Pleaser refer to the management of vessels for 2024-24 season for more details.  Note that the Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme is discontinued for this season. The Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme (VSPS) is an alternative vessel clearance pathway for ro-ro vessels. RoRo vessels will only be exempted from mandatory seasonal pest inspections if they are eligible under this scheme and no insects have been detected. 

Target risk countries (41)

Any target high risk or target risk goods manufactured in, or shipped from these countries are subject to the BMSB seasonal measures.  Any vessel that that berths at, load or tranships from these countries are also subject to BMSB seasonal measures:

• Albania
• Andorra
• Armenia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• China (heightened vessel surveillance only)
• Croatia
• Czechia
• France
• Japan (heightened vessel surveillance only)
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Kazakhstan
• Republic of Korea (heightened vessel surveillance only)
• Kosovo
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Montenegro
• Moldova
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Republic of North Macedonia
• Romania
• Russia
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Türkiye
• Ukraine
• United States of America
• Uzbekistan
  
  

The following countries have been identified as emerging risk countries for the 2024-25 BMSB risk season and may be selected for a random onshore inspection: China and  United Kingdom.

• China – random inspections will apply to goods shipped between 1 September to 31 December (inclusive)
• United Kingdom – random inspections will apply to goods shipped between 1 December to 30 April (inclusive)
• In addition to the target high risk goods, chapters 39, 94 and 95 will be subject to random inspections for emerging risk countries only.

Target high risk or target risk goods 

Some goods manufactured in, or shipped from the target risk countries as sea cargo have been identified as target high risk or target risk goods. To view the list as well as how these goods should be subject to BMSB treatments, please click on this DAWR link here. 

In general, the only target high risk goods will require mandatory treatment for BMSB risk. Target risk goods will not but will be subject to increased onshore intervention through random inspection. For all other goods that are not categorised as target high risk and target risk goods, BMSB seasonal measures do not apply. However, if they are part of a container or consignment that contains target high risk or target risk goods, they will be subject to the measures.

Mandatory offshore treatment of target high risk goods shipped as break bulk cargo, including goods shipped in open top containers or on flat rack containers, will be required. Untreated break bulk or treated by an unapproved treatment provider will be denied discharge and be directed for export on arrival.  Onshore treatment is not permitted. Note that modified FCL (full container load) containers ( eg modified to house in-built power generators, etc) are no longer sealed six hard sided containers and are considered to be break bulk cargo. 

Containerised cargo - mandatory offshore or onshore treatment of target high risk goods arriving in sealed six hard sided containers ( includes refrigerated containers, operating and non-operating and hard top sealed containers) is required at the container level. Goods are to be treated within the container. Deconsolidation or removal of goods will not be permitted prior to treatment. No exemptions for deconsolidation or segregation on arrival will be considered by the department.

To demonstrate goods were sealed inside a container prior to 1 September or after treatment, a BMSB sealing declaration must be provided with the lodgement. This document is required where:

• Goods were containerised prior to 1 September, but shipped after this date, or
• The bill of lading does not state the shipped-on board date, or
• Goods were sealed inside the container within 120 hours of treatment occurring offshore (for treatments conducted prior to 1 December)
• Sealing declarations must be completed and signed by either the exporter, freight forwarder, or shipping company at the port of origin.

LCL ( less than container load( and FAK ( Freights of all kinds) containers with target high risk goods will be managed at the container level for BMSB risk prior to deconsolidation. See the Management of LCL/FAK containers web page for more details.

Summary: containerised cargo (other than LCL and FAK containers) will require mandatory offshore or onshore treatment of target high risk goods shipped in sealed six hard sided containers and deconsolidation or segregation of goods will not be permitted. 

Throughout the season, the measures based on detections of BMSB and the risk pathways would be continuously reviewed.

For more information, click here. 

BMSB Resource Hub 

Simple fact sheets in pdf and doc formats are being created featuring the following: 

• Quick reference guide
• BMSB Seasonal measures
• Goods subject to BMSB measures 
• Preparing to import goods 
• Managing LCL/FAK containers
• Managing goods on arrival 

Templates relating to sealing declarations, transhipment declarations etc are also available in the BMSB Resource Hub.  

Relevant links: 

• Seasonal measures for BMSB for 2023-24
• Import Industry Advice Notice 190-2024
• Preparing to import goods during the BMSB season 
• What happens to your goods on arrival during the BMSB season
• Management of vessels
• Management of LCL/FAK containers during the 2023-24 BMSB season
• Offshore BMSB treatment providers scheme
• List of offshore BMSB treatment providers
• BMSB Frequently Asked Questions webpage

New Zealand BMSB requirements

The BMSB risk season starts on 1st September and the BMSB measures apply to new and used  target vehicles, machinery, and parts exported from BMSB-risk countries during the BMSB-risk season; on or after 1st September and which will arrive in New Zealand (NZ) before or on 30 April. The measures also apply to sea containers from Italy during the BMSB-risk season.

There is one exception to this rule: BMSB management is not required if target vehicles, machinery, and parts are loaded into a fully enclosed container which is sealed before 1 September and then exported before 1 October of the same year.

To assess whether your import of vehicles, machinery and parts arriving as seafreight to NZ have to meet the BMSB requirements, check the revised import health standard that came into force 11 August 2021, where the various commodities are listed as some types may be excluded from the measures. 

For vehicles, machinery and parts to comply with BMST measures, they must be treated by an MPI-approved offshore treatment provider before arrival in New Zealand. Note that there are no MPI-approved treatment providers in Australia. Goods bound for New Zealand cannot be treated for BMSB in Australia. For full details, see Import Health Standard, 11 August 2021. 

Note also that there are transshipping requirements to comply with if these goods manufactured in a non-BMSB-risk country are transhipped through a BMSB-risk country on their way to NZ. See section 9.2 of the Import Health Standard.  

Relevant links:
NZ BMSB requirements info page 
NZ BMSB requirements for importers
Import Health Standard for sea containers from all countries
Special BMSB requirements for sea containers coming from Italy.
Ships arriving and hitchhiker pests.
Stink bug warning to importers

Chilean BMSB requirements

Servicio Agricola y Ganadero (SAG) Resolution No. 971/2018 (Spanish only), requiring fumigation of goods from United States to Chile. This resolution was further amended in 2019 (No. 5607/2019) to include measures applicable for used vehicles and vehicle parts.  

Members operating ships to Australia, New Zealand and Chile are urged to familiarise themselves of the above BMSB requirements and compliance and for translation to get local agents to arrange accordingly. 

Fijian BMSB requirements 

Fiji has introduced BMSB measures. Please be guided by Swire Shipping's information on the Fijian BMSB requirements.  

Current Regulations

• There appears to be no Australian notice issue regarding the commencement of 2024 FSMC vessel assessment and seasonal pest inspection measures. The last notice was  Australia Industry Advice Notice No. 277-2022 issued by the DAFF which was for season 2023. We assume that the same measures would apply since no notice was issued. 
• Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS)
• First points of entry (FPOE)
• Vessel Compliance Scheme (VCS)

AGM requirements

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, DAFF requires all vessels that have visited a far east Russian port between 40°N to 60°N, and west of 147°E anytime between 1 July and 30 September in the previous two calendar years, to provide an AGM freedom certificate.

The certificate must be issued by the agriculture authorities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Russia or the United States of America. If the certification is issued by the Russian agriculture authorities, the certificate must include the date and time of departure from the port where the vessel was inspected for AGM and cleared.

If the Master of a vessel requests a Certificate of Freedom from AGM to be issued, a full AGM inspection will be conducted by the department.

Where to find the vessel’s AGM Certificate
The Master and the vessel’s port Agent will receive the Certificate as a PDF attachment to an email after an inspection. Only the vessel’s Agent and the department has access to the electronically stored Certificate in MARS.

AGM related requirements

Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS)

MARS  is an online web portal for commercial vessel masters and shipping agents to submit pre-arrival documents required of all international vessels seeking Australian biosecurity clearance.

As part of the pre-arrival reporting process, all relevant vessels will be sent an AGM questionnaire through the MARS. MARS has functionality to view information related to the status of your vessel.

The completed questionnaire has to be returned to the Maritime National Co-ordination Centre (MNCC) and assessed. Vessel will be notified if a targeted AGM inspection is required as part of the first port arrival formalities.

All Pre-arrival reporting using MARS ensures that:

• the biosecurity risk of each vessel entering Australian waters is assessed
• all biosecurity risk posed by vessels is adequately managed.

Where a vessel inspection does not meet the department‘s standards, additional directions or corrective actions will be issued by a biosecurity officer.

Note:

• Vessel Operator Responsibilities
  The operator of the vessel is obligated to accurately report information in accordance with Section 193 of the Biosecurity Act 2015. This information must be lodged in MARS no later than 12 hours prior to arrival.
• Shipping Agent Responsibilities
  Where the vessel operator uses a shipping agent, the agent is responsible for lodgement of accurate and timely information into MARS. The agent must ensure that this information is a true and correct representation of the reports provided by the vessel operator, and that any changes have been confirmed with the operator.

First points of entry (FPOE)

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, all international vessels and goods become subject to biosecurity control on entering Australian territory (12NM offshore).

Such vessels must only enter Australia at ports that have been determined as first points of entry under section 229 of the Biosecurity Act 2015, unless permission has been granted by the department to enter a non-first point of entry (under subsection 247(2) of the Act).

This is to ensure that vessels enter Australia at a location that has appropriate facilities and personnel to manage the biosecurity risks to an acceptable level.

Vessels may only enter an FPOE after:

1. Submitting mandatory pre-arrival reporting form using MARS;
2. Receiving advice on biosecurity, pratique and berthing conditions from the department as Biosecurity Status Documents (BSDs); a single source of information for biosecurity directions and advice for each voyage

Vessel Compliance Scheme (VCS)

A scheme developed by DAFF to help vessels comply with the biosecurity requirements and also allow vessels to reduce physical inspections over a defined voyage cycle if they qualify and remain under the VCS. The VCS uses a demerit action list and associated points that determine the vessel eligibility under the VCS.

Commercial vessel operators must meet  the following requirements to be eligible for the VCS and qualify for reduced intervention:

• A minimum of 3 voyages to Australia in a 12 month period
• Below the individual inspection threshold of 10 points for a voyage
• Below the collective threshold of 20 points over 3 voyages.

Background

Gypsy moths pose a high biosecurity risk to Australia because of their tendency to hitchhike and their high reproductive rate. If gypsy moths established in Australia they would be extremely difficult and expensive to manage, partly because of their broad host range.

Australia is now operating under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (BSA) which DAFF administers and this act relates to the management of diseases and pests that may cause harm to human, animal or plan health or the environment. AGM requirements fall under the BSA which replaced the Quarantine Act 1908 in 2016.

As such, DAFF is responsible for making sure that all vessels arriving in Australia from overseas must comply with Australia’s biosecurity laws and International Health Regulations.

Useful links: 
Import Industry Advice Notices

Trading restrictions imposed by Australia

• Russia

• Asian Gypsy Moth Regulations
  See: Australian Asian Gypsy Moth Regulations
• Fiji: Arms embargo
• Iranian sanctions
  On 29 July 2010, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade announced new sanctions  against Iran supplementing existing United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran.
  The new measures include
  • Targeted financial sanctions: Restrictions on financial transactions involving designated individuals and entities which contribute to Iran's nuclear and missile programs; or assist Iran to violate its sanctions obligations.
  • Travel restrictions: Restrictions on visas to travel to Australia by individuals who contribute to Iran's nuclear and missile programs; or assist Iran to violate its sanctions obligations.
  • Arms and strategic goods and services embargo: The range of goods and services prohibited for supply to Iran has been expanded to include any items, or related services, that could contribute to Iran’s nuclear or missile programs, as well as heavy military equipment. In addition, the Iran Regulations now prohibit the transfer of technology or technical assistance to Iran related to ballistic missiles.
  • The new sanctions also prohibit the provision of bunkering services for Iranian vessels without prior authorisation from the Foreign Minister.
• Democratic People's Republic of Korea sanctions
  Vessels flying the DPR Korean flag are banned from Australian ports since 10 October 2006.
• United Nations Security Council Resolutions