The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has launched ethyl formate (EF) combined with carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a new approved treatment for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) under AusTreat. This combination uses EF as a fumigant with CO₂ to enhance penetration and effectiveness, providing industry with an additional biosecurity treatment option.

The treatment became available for the start of the BMSB season on 1 September 2025.

Implementation

Full implementation of ethyl formate as a new treatment type will be phased, beginning with offshore use as a pre-arrival treatment for the 2025-26 BMSB risk season, with plans for onshore use to follow in 2026-27.

Application

BMSB seasonal measures still 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.

Please note that ethyl formate is not currently suitable for timber or perishables.

Registration

To be able to conduct ethyl formate treatments, pre-border treatment providers must be registered and approved under AusTreat. A registration form is available on our webpage.

Treatment documentation

The supporting methodology and treatment documentation templates have been finalised, with the assistance of industry stakeholders and their feedback, and is now available on the department’s ‘Methodologies and documents for biosecurity treatments’ webpage.

Treatment rates

These have been developed and published on the Seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) page.

WHS control measures

For consignments that have been treated offshore with ethyl formate and require inspection where a biosecurity officer is present:

• seals intact

• supervised unpack

• tailgate inspection

Industry will be responsible for arranging a third-party ethyl formate detection and monitoring operator (EF operator) to be present at the biosecurity inspection to monitor for ethyl formate. These measures will follow the procedures currently used for managing Sulfuryl Fluoride treated goods.

The DDWL Team

Story courtesy of DAFF & IFCBAA

Photo courtesy of DAFF