BMSB Country List Expands to 32

In response to the rapid expansion of BMSB throughout Europe and North America, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has strengthened the seasonal measures to manage risk of BMSB from arriving in Australia for the 2019–20 risk season.

The current Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season is drawing to a close, 30 April 2019. The last 8 months have been testing for many importers and logistic businesses alike. This season has seen many delays due to local fumigation backlogs, resulting in additional costs to importers. There have also been several RORO vessels turned away due to detection of BMSB on board.

BMSB is not found in Australia and needs to be kept out. It could severely impact our agricultural industries. Juveniles and adults feed on, and can severely damage, fruit and vegetable crops rendering them unsellable or reducing production yields. Stink bugs can also be a nuisance, entering vehicles, homes and factories for shelter over winter.

They can arrive in Australia on cargo and containers shipped between September and April. This coincides with autumn and winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Next season, 01 Sept 2019 – 30 April 2020, will see the number of countries subject to BMSB measures increase from 9 to 32. Australian importers are advised to discuss treatment option with their suppliers at port of loading.

For the 2019–20 season, certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from the following target risk countries will be subject to BMSB requirements on arrival.

Target Risk Countries