The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) issued notice 76-2019 this week: “Conclusion of the 2018-2019 Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) Risk Season.†Goods shipped or vessels departing from BMSB identified target risk countries on or after 1 May 2019, will no longer be subject to the BMSB seasonal measures including the SPI on arrival.
The notice was addressed to: Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers and principal agents— associated with shipping or importing goods that require increased intervention during the 2018-19 BMSB risk season.
In response to the expansion of BMSB throughout Europe, DAWR implemented seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB from entering and establishing in Australia during the 2018-19 risk season. Certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from identified target risk countries as sea cargo were subject to the heightened measures. The seasonal measures were extended to include increased reporting for all vessels that had berthed during the season at identified target risk countries and all roll-on roll-off vessels to undertake a seasonal pest inspection (SPI) on arrival.
Goods shipped or vessels departed on or before 30 April 2019 that are still en-route to Australia, will remain subject to the BMSB seasonal measures on arrival. To manage these goods, DAWR will use the shipped on board date to determine if BMSB measures are applicable.
Importers are reminded that it is their responsibility to continue to ensure that any goods imported, are free of biosecurity risk material throughout the year, not just during periods of heightened seasonal measures.
