Introduction
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is an invasive pest notorious for damaging a wide array of crops, fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. It releases a distinctive foul odour when disturbed, breeds rapidly, and is highly resilient across diverse climates.
Similar to the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex, the BMSB is a ‘hitchhiker’, stowing away on ships engaged in international trade. It typically seeks shelter during the colder months, making shipments of vehicles, machinery, parts and containers particularly high risk.
These pests, native to East Asia, have spread across North America and Europe are now considered a significant threat in Australia and New Zealand. Both countries have implemented rigorous biosecurity measures to intercept BMSB before establishment in the local ecosystem.
Requirements
The requirements apply to parties involved with importing goods in Australia and New Zealand. Before shipping, they must ensure that the targeted goods are treated using approved methods. The treatment must be carried out by accredited treatment providers, ensuring compliance with biosecurity regulations during the high-risk BMSB season, which typically runs from September to April each year.
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in New Zealand have collaborated to align their requirements for BMSB management as much as possible. The key areas of alignment are target risk countries, treatments, and the approved treatment providers.
However, there are still some differences in local requirements and port entry procedures. As such, parties involved with importing goods into Australia or New Zealand must understand the requirements for each country to ensure compliance.
Essentially, heightened biosecurity measures apply to:
- targeted goods such as vehicles, machinery and parts manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries, between 1 September 2025 and 30 April 2026 (inclusive), and
- vessels that berth at, load or tranship from target risk countries within the same period.
Goods transported in fully enclosed containers loaded and sealed prior to 1 September may qualify for exemption if supported by documented evidence such as seal number, time stamped photos, etc.
Target risk countries
Both Australia and New Zealand requirements include the following 38 target risk countries:
1. Albania | 14. Germany | 26. North Macedonia |
2. Andorra | 15. Greece | 27. Poland |
3. Armenia | 16. Hungary | 28. Portugal |
4. Austria | 17. Italy | 29. Romania |
5. Azerbaijan | 18. Japan | 30. Russia |
6. Belgium | 19. Kazakhstan | 31. Serbia |
7. Bosnia and Herzegovina | 20. Kosovo | 32. Slovakia |
8. Bulgaria | 21. Liechtenstein | 33. Slovenia |
9. Canada | 22. Luxembourg | 34. Spain |
10. Croatia | 23. Moldova | 35. Switzerland |
11. Czechia | 24. Montenegro | 36. Turkey |
12. France | 25. Netherlands | 37. Ukraine |
13. Georgia | 38. USA (excludes Alaska & Hawaii) | |
In addition to these countries, Australian requirements include Uzbekistan, China, and South Korea in the list of targeted risk countries.
Australia has also identified United Kingdom, China, Japan and South Korea as emerging risk countries. Consequently, goods shipped from these countries between 1 September and 30 April (inclusive) will be subject to random inspections.
Targeted vessels
In Australia, all roll-on roll-off (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 self-inspections and respond to specific questions as part of the pre-arrival reporting requirements; and
- undergo a mandatory seasonal pest inspection on arrival in Australia.
In New Zealand, in addition to vehicles, machinery and parts from the 38 target risk countries (that are subject to VMP Standard), all sea containers imported from Italy are targeted due to higher BMSB populations. Some Italian goods may be sensitive to treatment and are permitted alternative BMSB management under the SEACO Standard.
Approved treatment methods
Acceptable pre-shipment treatment methods include:
- Heat Treatment: Maintaining the goods at 56°C or higher for at least 30 minutes. For individual goods weighing less than 3000 kg shipped as break bulk only, maintaining 60°C or higher for at least 10 minutes
- Fumigation: Using sulfuryl fluoride or methyl bromide to fumigate the cargo at a concentration of 24g/m3@10°C for at least 12-24 hours.
- Ethyl Formate: Newly approved treatment for offshore use in the 2025–26 season. Treatments must be done at temperatures above 10°C, with a minimum end point of 15 g/m³ ethyl formate.
These treatments are required to be carried out by DAFF or MPI approved providers before arrival, with valid treatment certification provided. Goods treated by unapproved providers are considered non-compliant.
The list of approved treatment providers can be accessed here: Pre-border Biosecurity Treatment Providers - DAFF (agriculture.gov.au)
Conclusion
Although the responsibility for ensuring the cargo is ‘clean’ lies with the importers, Members with ships operating in Australia and New Zealand* are recommended to ensure compliance with BMSB measures, as non-compliant shipments may be redirected, re-exported, treated onshore (if permitted), or face refusal of discharge, delays, storage fees, or other costs.
*Even though this article mainly covers the BMSB measures in Australia and New Zealand, similar protocols are in place for vessels arriving in Chile and Fiji. The Chilean Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) require inspection and fumigation of certain imported goods, especially from the United States. It is recommended to consult Club’s local correspondent or vessel agents for the most up-to-date information.
