SHIPPING lines intending to transship goods through Australia and New Zealand are on alert ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) season.
Occurring annually, the BMSB season runs from 1 September to 30 April, according to the biosecurity departments of the respective countries.
As with years previous, the upcoming season sees biosecurity regulations and guidance in place that may affect certain ships and goods intending to call the two countries.
Guidance from Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) includes several changes to regulations and processes for the upcoming BMSB season, which were announced earlier this month.
China and South Korea have both been added to the heightened vessel surveillance list, with random inspections to apply to goods shipped from China between 1 September to 31 December.
Further, DAFF announced the Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme will be discontinued for the 2024-25 BMSB season, with vessel masters and shipping agents to be issued an updated Seasonal Pest Questionnaire during the season.
Ro-Ro vessels in particular are under the spotlight of DAFF during these months, a result of vehicle units acting as a risk for importation of the invasive pests.
DAFF states that Ro-Ro vessels that have berthed, loaded or transhipped from target risk countries will be subject to a mandatory seasonal pest inspection on arrival in Australian territory.
Heat and fumigation are the options listed by DAFF for treatment of BMSB if found onboard, with fumigation the primary option for Ro-Ro/ car carriers.
Sulfuryl Fluoride and Methyl Bromide are the DAFF-permitted fumigants for the upcoming season, with Methyl Bromide remaining a controversial option for its potential to cause damage to vehicle materials, such as leather and vinyl.
DAFF has also introduced its new pre-border biosecurity treatment providor scheme entitled AusTreat.
AusTreat replaces the Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme and 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 offshore treatments, reducing intervention at the border and eliminating the need to develop new pest specific schemes,” the DAFF guidance reads.
Australia and New Zealand have aligned where possible their respective regulations regarding measures for preventing importation and management of BMSB.
The main areas of alignment are risk countries, treatments, and the approved treatment providers who can carry out BMSB treatment before targeted goods arrive in each country.
