The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has implemented stronger measures to manage the seasonal risk of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) infestations in sea cargo, actively targeting goods from Italy this season, as well as the USA. The protocol for the annual stink bug season started on 1st September 2017 and will conclude on 30th April 2018.
DAWR implemented emergency measures in response to the large number of interceptions of the bugs, including several large live infestations being detected on and in Italian origin bulk and containerised cargo during the current season.
The concern is that detections are being made of stink bugs sheltering in a range of containers and consignments arriving from Italy that are not captured by existing mandatory measures, necessitating DAWR to increase the total number of inspections and check a broader range of cargo.
When deconsolidating or unpacking goods, care should be taken to inspect locations where the bugs may congregate, including crevices or protected areas of shipping containers, inside the goods, or within packaging material. If BMSB are detected, operators and staff must follow normal procedures to secure freight to limit any movement of insects and notify the department immediately. Infested goods will require treatment on arrival using methyl bromide, or another approved treatment. Â
To manage the risk posed by these goods, all containerised goods shipped via sea cargo from Italy that arrive in Australia between 17 January 2018 and 30 April 2018 will be required to undergo an approved treatment onshore. Goods already treated offshore with one of the approved BMSB treatments, and where a valid treatment certificate is presented to the department, will not require further treatment.
Exceptions from treatment also apply to goods that fall within one of the excluded tariff groups:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Live animals
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fresh produce (including nursery stock and live plants)
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Food for human consumption
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Seeds for sowing
