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 Goods:

·        If your goods are classed as target high risk, they will require mandatory treatment.

·        If your goods are classed as target risk, they will be subject to random inspection.

·        If your goods are not found in either category, they are not subject to BMSB measures, however, will be subject to the measures if packed with target high risk or risk goods.

Goods shipped in iso-tanks and as bulk-in-holds of cargo vessels are not subject to the measures.

Note: Where full kegs (beer, kombucha, etc) are imported into Australia, and are required to be declared as a separate commodity by The Australian Border Force (ABF), the department will accept a manufacturer’s declaration confirming the kegs are being imported full and will release from BMSB seasonal measures without further intervention.

Treatment of target high risk goods

·        Target high risk goods treated in target risk countries must be treated by a treatment provider listed as ‘approved’ on the List of treatment providers.

·        Treatment certificates from target risk countries will not be accepted from unregistered treatment providers or treatment providers listed as ‘suspended’, ‘withdrawn’ or ‘under review’ on the List of Treatment Providers.

o   Containerised goods will be directed for onshore treatment.

o   Break bulk will be directed for export.

Note: Treatment providers that wish to become registered to conduct BMSB treatments can do so under AusTreat.

Break bulk goods

·        Break bulk includes those goods shipped on flat racks and in open top containers.

·        All target high risk goods shipped as break bulk must be treated offshore prior to arrival into Australia.

·        Untreated break bulk will be denied discharge or directed for export.

·        Onshore treatment is not permitted.

·        Shipper Owned Containers (SOCs) and FCL containers that have been modified, such as those used to house in-built power generators, filtration plants, portable accommodation etc. are no longer sealed six hard sided containers and are considered break bulk cargo.

·        Automated Entry Processing for Commodity (AEPCOMM) arrangements for BMSB is permitted for break bulk goods. See relevant BICON commodities for assessment and outcomes.

Note: If you are importing target high risk goods as break bulk (including flat rack and open top containers) and it has not been treated offshore prior to arrival, you must answer ‘YES’ to community protection question 642 (BIOSECURITY: ARE THE GOODS ARRIVING IN AN OPEN TOP/FLAT RACK CONTAINER OR AS BREAK BULK, AND DO NOT MEET OFFSHORE BMSB TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS?). This includes Automated Entry Processing for Commodity (AEPCOMM) lodgements.

Containerised goods (FCL, FCX)

·        Containerised cargo arriving in sealed six hard sided containers with target high risk goods can be treated offshore, or onshore at the container level.

·        Refrigerated containers (operating and non-operating) and hard top sealed containers (ISO22U6/ISO22UP, ISO42U6/ISO42UP and ISO45U6/ISO45UP) are deemed to be the same as six hard sided sealed containers.

·        Onshore treatment of goods is to occur at the container level. Deconsolidation or removal of goods from the container will not be permitted prior to treatment.

·        Containers should be packed in a manner that will enable effective onshore treatment at the container level to avoid possible export of the container.

·        AEPCOMM arrangements for BMSB is permitted for containerised goods shipped as FCL (Full Container Load) and FCX (Full Container Consolidated). See relevant BICON commodities for assessment and outcomes.

·        A sealing declaration can be utilised for FCL / FCX containers in the following circumstances:

o   Goods were containerised and sealed prior to 1 September, but shipped on board after this date; or

o   The bill of lading does not state the shipped-on board date; or

o   Target high risk goods were manufactured, packed and sealed in a container in a non-target risk country but have been shipped from a target risk country; or

o   Goods were sealed inside the container within 120 hours of treatment occurring offshore (for treatments conducted prior to 1 December).

Note: Sealing declarations must be completed and signed by either the exporter, freight forwarder, or shipping company at the port of origin.

Note: Container tracking information is not an acceptable form of evidence to verify when goods were loaded on board the vessel or when goods were sealed in a container.

Containerised goods shipped as Less than Container Load (LCL) consignments and Freight of all Kinds (FAK) containers

LCL and FAK containers with target high risk goods will be managed at the container level for BMSB risk prior to deconsolidation. Once BMSB risk has been managed, the consignments within these containers will be processed at the Full Import Declaration (FID) level for all other biosecurity intervention (if applicable).

See the Management of LCL/FAK containers web page for more details.

Airfreight

Random inspections will apply to target high risk goods shipped as airfreight from United States of America and China between 1 September to 30 April (inclusive). BMSB treatment of these goods will not be required.

Known risk pathways and supply chains

·        Goods from known risk pathways and supply chains that have had previous detections of BMSB may be subject to BMSB intervention including treatment and/or inspections.

Treatment of BMSB goods in Australia and New Zealand

·        The BMSB seasonal measures are for goods being imported into Australian territory, and managing the risk associated for all goods that come into Australian territory.

·        Australia will not be conducting BMSB treatments for goods transhipping to NZ.

·        Goods bound for Australia cannot be treated for BMSB in New Zealand and vice versa. For example, if the goods have been exported from New Zealand for not meeting BMSB import conditions, they will not be permitted to be treated in Australia.

Target Risk Countries:

The countries below have been categorised as target risk:

·        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 -BMSB risk season and may be selected for a random onshore inspection: United Kingdom, China, Japan and Republic of Korea.

·        Random inspections will apply to goods shipped from United Kingdom, China, Japan and Republic of Korea between 1 September 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 Goods

Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications have been categorised as target high risk goods and will require mandatory treatment for BMSB risk.

·        44 - Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal

·        45 - Cork and articles of cork

·        57 - Carpets and other textile floor coverings

·        68 - Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials

·        69 - Ceramic products – including sub chapters I and II

·        70 – Glass and glass ware

·        72 - Iron and steel - including sub chapters I, II, III, IV

·        73 - Articles of iron or steel

·        74 - Copper and articles thereof

·        75 - Nickel and articles thereof

·        76 - Aluminium and articles thereof

·        78 - Lead and articles thereof

·        79 - Zinc and articles thereof

·        80 - Tin and articles thereof

·        81 - Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof

·        82 - Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal

·        83 - Miscellaneous articles of base metals

·        84 - Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

·        85 - Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles

·        86 - Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds

·        87 - Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof

·        88 - Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof

·        89 - Ships, boats and floating structures

Target risk goods

Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications have been categorised as target risk goods and are only subject to increased onshore intervention through random inspection. Mandatory treatment is not required.

·        27 - Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes

·        28 - Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes - including sub chapters I, II, III, IV and V

·        29 - Organic chemicals - including sub chapters I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII and XIII

·        38 - Miscellaneous chemical products

·        39 - Plastics and articles thereof - – including sub chapters I and II

·        40 - Rubber and articles thereof

·        48 - Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard

·        49 - Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans

·        56 - Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof

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.

Treatment Rates

There are four approved treatment options for BMSB treatment.

The approved treatments are:

Heat

For all good types and sizes

·        56°C or higher at the coldest surface of the goods, for a minimum of 30 minutes
or

·        for individual goods weighing less than 3000 kg shipped as break bulk only, 60°C or higher at the coldest surface of the goods, for a minimum of 10 minutes

Note: Individual goods shipped as break bulk weighing less than 3000kg treated at 60°C for 10 minutes require evidence within shipping documentation that they are less than 3000kg for these treatments to be accepted.

Methyl Bromide

·        A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for a minimum of 12 hours (but less than 24 hours), and a minimum end point reading of 12 g/m³
or

·        A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for 24 hours or longer, and a minimum end point reading of 8 g/m³

Note:

·        All start time concentration readings must be above 24 g/m³.

·        Dose increases to compensate for temperatures less than 10°C is NOT permitted.

·        Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted.

·        If the concentration of fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed.

Sulfuryl Fluoride

·        A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for a minimum of 12 hours (but less than 24 hours), and a minimum end point reading of 12 g/m³
or

·        A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for 24 hours or longer, and a minimum end point reading of 8 g/m³

Note:

·        All start time concentration readings must be above 24 g/m³.

·        Dose increases to compensate for temperatures less than 10°C is NOT permitted.

·        Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted.

·        If the concentration of fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed.

Sulfuryl Fluoride – Using third-party system*

·        Achieve a CT of 200 g-h/m³ or more, at 10°c or above, for 12 hours or longer, with a minimum end point reading of 12 g/m³
or

·        Achieve a CT of 200 g-h/m³ or more, at 10°C or above, for 24 hours or longer, with a minimum end point reading of 8 g/m³

*Note:

The approved stewardship program operators and their third party programs are:

·        Douglas Products or their agents - FumiGuide

·        Ensystex II, Inc. (USA) - Fumicalc

·        Barcan Barcan Pest Control & Fumigation Co. (Barcan ilaclama Fumigasyon Tic. Ltd.Sti.) (Turkey) - FumiTrack

Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted. If the concentration of fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed.

Ethyl Formate

Approved for offshore treatments only.

All ethyl formate treatments must be performed at 10°C and above and have a minimum end point reading for ethyl formate of 15 g/m³.

For a formulation of 16.7% ethyl formate with 83.3% carbon dioxide

Note:

·        Dose increases to compensate for temperatures less than 10°C is NOT permitted.

·        Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted.

·        If the concentration of fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed.

Treatment minimum standards

There are set minimum standards for the application of BMSB treatments. Treatments applied for biosecurity purposes are part of managing the risk of introducing exotic pests and diseases.

It is important that treatment providers understand these requirements as treatments to manage risk are only effective when conducted correctly. These standards outline best practice methodologies for applying biosecurity treatments.

Onshore treatment

Where onshore treatment of goods is permitted, you can find a list of approved arrangement providers on the department’s website.

Offshore treatment

AusTreat sets out the department’s registration and compliance requirements for offshore treatment providers, including compliance with applicable treatment methodologies.

Further information can be found on the AusTreat webpage.

Treatment providers in target risk countries

All offshore treatment providers performing BMSB treatments in target risk countries must be registered under AusTreat and listed as 'approved' on the List of treatment providers prior to treatment. Treatments conducted by an unapproved treatment provider in a target risk country will be deemed as invalid and the goods will be subject to onshore treatment (if permitted) or directed for export.

Treatment providers in non-target risk countries

Treatment providers in other countries who intend to conduct BMSB treatments for goods that are manufactured in or shipped from any of the target risk countries are encouraged to register under an offshore treatment assurance scheme.

Treatment certificates issued by a treatment provider in non-target risk country will be accepted unless the:

·        treatment provider is listed as ‘suspended’, 'withdrawn' or ‘under review’ on the List of treatment providers,
or

·        unregistered treatment provider is listed as ‘unacceptable’ or ‘under review’ on our webpage.

Fraudulent certificates

The department continues to improve its systems to monitor and detect the use of fraudulent certificates and will identify consignments that arrive in Australia with fraudulent documentation.

Any consignment identified with a fraudulent certificate will be directed for onshore treatment (if permitted) or exported.

Post Treatment Window:

For goods treated prior to 1 December, a 120 hour post treatment window applies after they have been treated.

The 120 hour timeframe commences after treatment has been completed or when ventilation commences. For example, for:

·        Fumigation treatment, goods may be treated and treatment seals left intact. The post treatment window will commence when ventilation commences.

·        Heat treatment, the post treatment window commences immediately after treatment has been completed.

Containerised goods – Goods must be loaded into a six hard sided container and sealed within 120 hours. A sealing declaration can be provided if required.

Break bulk (including flat racks and open top containers) and modified containers– must be loaded onto a vessel for export from the target risk country within 120 hours. The shipped on board date, as indicated on the Ocean Bill of Lading, is the date used to determine whether break bulk is loaded within the 120 hour post treatment window. 
Note: The 'place and date of issue' is insufficient to confirm the goods were loaded on the vessel.

Note: The post treatment window does NOT apply to goods treated in a non-target risk country, or to goods treated from 1 December (inclusive) of the current BMSB season.

What happens to goods that arrive in Australia that have not met post treatment window requirements?

Onshore treatment is permitted for target high risk goods shipped in sealed six hard sided containers. For goods in sealed six hard sided containers, if the goods cannot be treated at the container level, or if the importer does not wish to have treatment performed on the goods, the cargo will be directed for export.

Break bulk cargo, including open top and flat rack containers and modified containers, that have not met post treatment window requirements will be denied discharge and / or immediately directed for export.

Note: Where evidence can be provided indicating the goods were unavoidably rescheduled and loaded onto another vessel within 48 hours outside of the 120 hour post treatment window, please contact spp@aff.gov.au prior to the vessel's arrival into Australia.

What happens when break bulk (including flat rack and open top containers) is unavoidably rolled / rescheduled and loaded onto another vessel within 48 hours outside of the 120 hour post treatment window?

There are provisions in the measures that enable goods shipped as break bulk (including open top and flat rack containers) to be retreated onshore within 48 hours of arrival if they have exceeded the 120 hour post treatment window by less than 48 hours (making total post treatment window time 168 hours), if the goods have been unavoidably delayed in the load port by the shipping line. 

A completed Rolled Goods Application (including all required attachments) must be submitted to the department via email to Hitchhiker Pests Policy, prior to the goods arriving in Australia. Failure to do so will result in the goods being denied discharge and/or being directed for export. 

The Rolled Goods Application Form is intended to demonstrate to the department that the risk is being sufficiently managed in order to allow the transport of the affected cargo from the vessel to a department approved onshore treatment provider for retreatment in accordance with the BMSB seasonal measures.

As part of the application requirements, the completed form must include:

·        A copy of the original treatment certificate.

·        A copy of the original booking that includes the intended shipping date.

·        Evidence from the shipping line that the goods were rolled to another booking.

·        Evidence of the rebooked voyage and actual shipped on board date.

·        Written evidence from the entity engaged to perform the tarping, confirming the tarping will be performed within 24 hours of discharge.

·        Written evidence from the Wharf, confirming access will be provided to the 3rd party to allow tarping to be performed within 24 hours of discharge.

·        Written evidence from the engaged AA to perform the treatment, confirming the treatment will be performed within 24 hours of the tarping being verified by a DAFF officer prior to movement to the nominated AA. 

Note: Treatment must occur on wharf or at an approved AA facility located within the discharge port precinct.

Upon approval of a rolled goods application, an alternative clearance letter may be provided to submit to Cargo Online Lodgement System (COLS) permitting the retreatment of the goods onshore on arrival.

Note: If goods have been exported outside the 120 hours but are transhipping through a third country, the department highly recommends they be treated in the transhipment port before loading to Australia rather than waiting to arrive in Australia to be exported for re-treatment.

What happens when the Offshore Treatment Provider is Under Review or Suspended whilst goods in transit:

Where detections of BMSB are found, and/or where the department considers the treatment provider has failed to comply with our import conditions, scheme requirements, or the relevant treatment methodology, the treatment provider may be placed under review or suspended and subject to further assessment/audit.

The department will enact the ‘in transit policy’ for consignments where the treatment provider status has changed.

Changes to treatment provider status will be notified to industry via Import Industry Advice Notices and the date of the status change will be published on the List of Treatment Providers in the summary of recent changes.

In-transit policy

Consignments or goods are classified as ‘in-transit’ when they have left the country of origin but have not yet been cleared through the border in Australia. When an offshore BMSB treatment provider is listed as under review or suspended, the department enacts its ‘in-transit’ policy.

Under this policy, all BMSB treatment certification issued by a treatment provider classified as under review or suspended will be considered unacceptable from the date the change is published on the department’s website, regardless of the date of treatment or date of issue on the certificate. This includes certification issued both before and after the change in their status.

Industry will be notified that a treatment provider has been classified as under review or suspended through an Import Industry Advice Notice (IIAN) and the treatment providers status will be updated in the List of Treatment Providers and in the summary of recent changes on this list.

Goods shipped as break bulk, including open top or flat rack containers, prior to the change in treatment provider status

Break bulk goods that were shipped on board on or prior to the relevant treatment provider being placed under review or suspended or shipped on board a vessel within 120 hours after the suspension (goods in-transit to Australia at the time of status change), will be permitted to discharge/unload on arrival only if there is an approved risk management plan in place. This will be in the form of an approved In-Transit Application. 

A completed In-transit Application Form (including all required attachments) must be submitted to the department via email to Hitchhiker Pests Policy, prior to the goods arriving in Australia. Failure to do so will result in the goods being denied discharge and/or being directed for export. 

The In-transit Application is intended to demonstrate to the department that the risk is being sufficiently managed in order to allow the transport of the affected cargo from the vessel to a department approved onshore treatment provider for treatment in accordance with the BMSB seasonal measures.

As part of the application requirements, the completed form must include:

·        A copy of the original treatment certificate.

·        A copy of the Bill of Lading that includes a shipped on board date.

·        Written evidence from the entity engaged to perform the tarping, confirming the tarping will be performed within 24 hours of discharge. Written evidence from the Wharf, confirming access will be provided to the 3rd party to allow tarping to be performed within 24 hours of discharge.

·        Written evidence from the engaged AA to perform the treatment, confirming the treatment will be performed within 24 hours of the tarping being verified by a DAFF officer prior to movement to the nominated AA. 

Note: Treatment must occur on wharf or at an approved AA facility located within the discharge port precinct.

Upon approval of an in-transit application, an alternative clearance letter may be provided to submit to Cargo Online Lodgement System (COLS) permitting the retreatment of the goods onshore on arrival.

Goods shipped as break bulk, including open top or flat rack containers, after the change in treatment provider status

Break bulk goods that were shipped after the relevant treatment provider was placed under review or suspended will not be permitted to discharge/unload within Australian territory, or if they have been unloaded from the vessel, will be directed for immediate containment and export. These goods will be assessed as non-compliant break bulk goods.

Goods shipped as break bulk, including open top or flat rack containers, and arrived or discharged prior to the suspension

Break bulk goods that have been discharged prior to, or on the date, the relevant treatment provider was suspended will be permitted for onshore treatment only with the approval of a risk management plan. These goods will be directed for appropriate containment of potential BMSB risk and treatment within 48 hours of arrival. If the goods cannot be treated within 48 hours, they may be directed for export, based on timeliness of treatment or export options. Break bulk goods treated onshore may be subject to further inspection.

Goods shipped as containerised cargo in sealed six hard sided containers

Goods that have been shipped in sealed six hard sided containers and treated by an under review or suspended offshore treatment provider will continue to be permitted to discharge/unload on arrival as per the current processes. These goods will be directed for onshore treatment by a department approved treatment provider. Deconsolidation or segregation of goods will not be permitted prior to treatment and goods may also be subject to further inspection.

For BMSB factsheets:

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs#bmsb-resource-hub

For more information on BMSB:

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs

Sealing Declarations, 120 hour tranship declarations, NUFT Manufacturers Declarations, In-transit Application Forms & Rolled Goods application forms can be found here:

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs/prepare-import#templates-for-documentary-evidence

DAFF General Enquiries contact number Call 1800 900 090

Information courtesy of DAFF

Image courtesy of DAFF