The new season for BMSBs bugs starts in September and with that, a whole new string of measures has been implemented jointly by New Zealand and Australia to stem the tide of these bugs coming into their countries. For the 2021/2022 season, seasonal measures will apply to :  

• targeted goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries
• vessels that berth at, load or tranship from target risk countries.
• goods that have been shipped between 1 September 2021 and 30 April 2022 ( inclusive) 

Due to the rapid spread of these BMSBs in Europe and North America, the list of countries targeted for having BMSBs has now grown to 38 countries for New Zealand and Australia. There are also countries that have been identified as emerging risk countries for this season. 

New Zealand's MPI  has released a revised version of their "Import Health Standard for Vehicles, Machinery and Parts" that came into effect 11 August 2021. The " Import Health Standard for Sea Containers from all countries" which entered into force on 19 July 2019 remains.  These revised standards impose various requirements for certain goods as well as specific ones for sea containers coming from Italy and used vehicles from Japan.   

To see all of the above requirements, please refer to our section on "Asian Gypsy Moth & phytosanitary restrictions/Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Regulations" for details. 

BIMCO Recommendations

Members operating ships heading for Australia, New Zealand and Chile should ensure that the above BMSB seasonal measures are complied with in order to avoid ships being turned away from their territorial waters, notwithstanding that the responsibility of ensuring the cargo is ¨'clean' lies with the importers. 

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season has begun effective 1 September 2020. As usual, Australia and New Zealand authorities have set out their requirements for the current season 2020/21  to ensure that these bugs are kept out of their countries. BMSBs are a serious pest and pose a threat to the country’s agricultural industries and are frequently found in goods carried as sea-freight upon arrival.

The measures are imposed on a targeted list of risk-countries where these goods come from. For the current season 2020/21, both countries have now added Kazakhstan, Moldova, Portugal and Ukraine, making a total of 37 countries on the list now. In addition, the following countries have been identified as emerging risk countries and may be selected for a random onshore inspection:

Belarus, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, United Kingdom and Chile

The governments are also monitoring other countries through a lower rate of random inspections and this includes all remaining European countries, China, Korea, Taiwan, Argentina, South Africa and Uruguay.

For full details and information on the BMSB requirements and target list of BMSB-risk countries imposed by Australia and NZ, please go to our BIMCO section on Asian Gypsy Moth & Phytosanitary restrictions / Brown marmorated stink bug regulations

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.

Trading restrictions imposed against Chile

• None

Trading restrictions imposed by Chile

• Chilean Asian Gypsy Moth Regulations
  The requirements apply to vessels that arrive from ports located in the North East and Far East Asia, between 60° and 20° North latitude.
• United Nations Security Council Resolutions