2022/23 BMSB update

Daniel Kasif|Aug 26, 2022|No Comment

How does BMSB effect your shipments

A key issue for logistics companies are the endless barriers which can severely disrupt the supply chain. Freight forwarders in Australia must understand all the issues that may potentially arise when organising a shipment, via air freight or ocean freight. It is highly important for freight specialists to understand all the factors that may affect shipments in any way. Bio security threats are one of the common factors which effect logistics management, one of the biggest biosecurity risk to Australia is the brown marmorated stunk bug.

The BMSB is an exotic pest that effects imported goods, currently, although the BMSB is exotic to Australia it has similar characteristics to our native stink bug. This bug attaches itself to shipping cargo and vessels that berth, load, or tranship from target risk countries.

All measures are applied to goods that have been shipped between 1st September 2022 and 30th April 2023. Freight companies must be aware of the shipped-on board date on the ocean bill of lading to determine when goods have been shipped. An outbreak of this bug would inflict extreme turmoil on Australian crops and ornamental plants, BMSB is typically found in Asia, North America, Europe, Oceania, and South America.

Measures

Freight forwarders must be aware the current measures in place for the 2022-23 BMSB season, it has been arriving on cargo imported from a wider range of countries such as China and has spread around the world. The bug is found in a wide range of materials which has meant that specialised biosecurity risk assessment is required in the danger period. Shipping inspection and treatments must be applied to a large array of goods which were not previously a biosecurity concern. Australia’s agriculture would be severely impacted, it can feed on over 300 host plants, vegetables, fruits, and nuts such as apples, grapes, cotton, citrus, maize, soybeans and tomatoes.

Federal import measures

The federal government will place strict protocols for the BMSB risk season in order to identify a potential infestation of the bug and implement treatment procedures if necessary. TGL must comply with the Australian government, We continuously review the measures throughout the season and may make necessary adjustments based on detections of BMSB and changes in the risk pathways.

High risk goods must be treated in target risk countries by a registered treatment provider before coming into Australia, freight forwarding companies must be aware of all these circumstances when organising shipments. TGL’s agents will offer specialised logistic services to clients to ensure no issues related to fumigation arise.

Some specific measures for that freight forwarding companies in the BMSB season are:

  • Containerised cargo imported to Australia which are sealed in hard sided containers with target high risk goods can be treated offshore, or onshore.
  • Ensure containers are packed in a manner that will enable effective onshore treatment at the container level to avoid possible export of the container.
  • To demonstrate goods were sealed inside a container prior to 1 September or after treatment, a BMSB sealing declaration must be provided with the lodgement.
  • Container tracking information can’t be used as the main form of evidence for confirming shipped on board date.
  • LCL containers are target high risk goods which need to be managed at the container level for BMSB risk prior to deconsolidation.

Importing goods from overseas

When importing goods from overseas countries, companies need to be aware of BMSB and its potential to arrival in Australia. Targeted high risk goods which require mandatory offshore treatment that arrive untreated or are treated by an unapproved treatment provider in a high-risk country, will be directed for export on arrival. The current high-risk countries include China and UK, when shipping from China to Australia TGL will deliver optimal freight solutions to ensure that all protocols are met upon arrival in Australia.

The following countries have also been categorised as target risk

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Armenia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Croatia
  • Czechia
  • France
  • Japan 
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kosovo
  • Liechtenstein
  • Luxembourg
  • Montenegro
  • Moldova
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Republic of North Macedonia
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United States of America

Who is affected?

Port workers / warehouse workers / transporters / importers

Anyone who works around or receives imported goods must continually look for signs of BMSB, this includes port workers, anyone working in and around freight, 3PL warehouses and industrial areas. BMSB will hide inside shipping containers, and they can be found within the goods in the container, including the boxes and packaging. Businesses that deal with imported goods which stored outside should be particularly alert, to prevent spread of BMSB into outdoor areas. These include:

  • Car dealerships.
  • Heavy machinery and equipment distributors.
  • Building suppliers, garden product suppliers.
  • Tile and ceramic distributors.

Treatment

Once there is a detection of BMSB immediate action is required to stop the possible spread of the bug, there are many compulsory practises which must be followed. If the goods being shipped have be declared as a risk, goods require mandatory offshore treatment by an approved offshore treatment provider. Goods that are treated in a risk country must be treated registered provider. If the goods are not treated by an approved offshore treatment provider, the treatment certificate will be invalid, and the goods will be denied discharge and directed for export on arrival.

TGL's offers specialised services and will be able help with all the necessary procedures to avoid any issues that may arise with you shipment. Goods treated prior to 1 December require a 120 hours post treatment window, goods must be loaded into a six hard sided container and sealed within 120 hours.

The Damage 

The brown marmorated stink bug can be a serious agricultural pest and has been observed feeding successfully on numerous fruit, vegetable, and field crops. They are especially problematic for businesses that ship products overseas. Cars manufactured in high-risk countries must be fumigated or heated to temperatures over 50ºC for several hours before they are allowed into Australia.

Some of the high-risk goods logistic companies must look out for are:



At TGL, we offer business to business logistics services, including sea freight, air freight, domestic freight, warehousing, and customs clearance to all industries. Get a quote today.
If you require further information about us and the services we provide, book a free no-obligation consultation session with our logistics professionals.