Koichi Miyahiro
Manager of Public Relations Division

To prevent recent similar Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) incidents from Japan and other Asian countries, vessels calling at ports in Australia should comply with all required vessel surveillance and inspections. We advise BMSB’s character and the management of BMSB for the next 2020/2021 seasonal measures.

1. Why need the managing the risk of BMSB in Australia?

BMSB is not found in Australia, however pose a high biosecurity risk due to their tendency to hitchhike in sea cargo and their highly mobile nature. It is not a human health risk but poses a risk to agricultural crops, and is a nuisance pest, seeking shelter in homes and vehicles in large numbers. BMSB are highly mobile and during the colder months in the northern hemisphere (between September and April), it is common for BMSB to take shelter in cargo, as well as vehicles and machinery, that are bound for Australia. Australia is a large country as the sixth largest country in land area. The northern section has tropical influenced climate and the southern parts are cooler with mild summers and cool sometimes rainy winters. Australia’s environment supports the entry and potential pathway for BMSB to establish. For that reason, Australia conduct strict inspection of BMSB.

2. 2019/2020 BMSB seasonal measures

Seasonal measures are implemented to manage the risk of BMSB arriving in vessels and goods. The measures apply to goods shipped between September and April of each year, coinciding with the northern hemisphere’s winter. This is when adult BMSB overwinters and shelters in a range of goods including machinery, vehicles, and other types of goods that are accessible to the adult BMSB.

1. Who do seasonal measures apply to?

   In 2019/2020, seasonal measures apply to all RORO vessels that berth at, load or tranship in the following 33 target risk countries from 1 September 2019 and that arrive in Australian territory by 31 May 2020 (inclusive): The list of target risk countries for BMSB risk season is as follows;-

   Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Spain Turkey, U.S.A., Japan

2. Outlines of the seasonal measures

   RO-RO vessels provide many spots for BMSB to hide or find refuge and the seasonal measures were introduced due to high volumes of detections of BMSB and other exotic species on RORO vessels. Heightened surveillance apply to RORO vessel from target risk countries and Japan.

   • conduct self-inspection and respond specific questions as part of the pre-arrival reporting requirements, and
   • undergo a mandatory seasonal pests inspection on arrival in Australia.

   Japan has been included in this year’s measures due to previous detections of BMSB in the 2017/2018. However, only RORO vessels that are eligible for the Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme and have detected no insects on board will be exempted from the mandatory onarrival seasonal pest inspection.

   Regarding type of cargo, Target High Risk Goods will be required mandatory treatment and Target Risk Goods will not be required mandatory treatment however be subject to onshore random inspection. For example, break bulk goods including goods in open top and on flat rack containers are required mandatory offshore treatment. Goods shipped in six hard sided containers can be treated offshore or onshore.

Please read more about BMSB seasonal measures in Australia at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment:

www.agriculture.gov.au/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs