News
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season 2024-2025
Attention: Shipping Manager
The 2024 -2025 BMSB season is about to commence, from departure at origin 1st September 2024 to arrival in Australia by 30th April 2025 (inclusive). We would like to remind you of the strict measures that are in place for all cargo originating in target risk countries and to vessels that berth, load or tranship from target risk countries within the same period. The shipped on board date, as indicated on the Bill of Lading, is the date used to determine when the goods have been shipped.
The measures for 2024-2025 remain similar to last season, with China and the Republic of Korea being added to the heightened vessel surveillance list.
Target Risk Countries
- 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 (new)
The United Kingdom and China have been identified as emerging risk countries for the 2024-2025 BMSB season and may be selected for random onshore inspection.
- United Kingdom – random inspections will apply to goods shipped between 1 December to 30 April (inclusive)
- China – random inspections will apply to goods shipped between 1 September to 31 December (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.
Check if your goods need to comply with the seasonal measures:
- Will the goods be shipped between 1st September 2024 and 30th April 2025 (inclusive)?
- Will the goods be shipped as sea cargo?
- Have the goods been manufactured in, or shipped from, a target risk country?
- Are the goods categorized as target high risk or target risk goods?
If you have answered yes to all the above questions, then BMSB measures will apply to your goods. The same conditions will apply for both new and used goods.
High risk HS codes can be found at the following link:-
The seasonal measures only apply to the goods being imported, not to the packaging material / non-commodity.
Please note: Mandatory offshore treatment applies for all target high risk goods shipped as break bulk, including those shipped in open top or as flat rack containers. There are no provisions for onshore treatment of these goods and goods will be directed for export. If treated offshore, the goods must be shipped on board within 120 hours of the completion of treatment (if treated prior to 1 December).
Onshore treatment
There are three approved BMSB treatments:-
· Methyl Bromide
· Sulfuryl Fluoride
· Heat Treatment
Where onshore treatment of goods is permitted, you can find a list of approved arrangement providers on the department’s website.
Offshore treatment
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has introduced AusTreat, a new pre-border biosecurity treatment provider scheme. AusTreat has replaced 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. Treatment providers approved under AusTreat will be listed on the List of treatment providers.
More information can be found at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs
Best regards,
