Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season 2023-24

By Andrea Dyson | Posted 1 September 2023

The Department of Agriculture has released measures for the 2023-24  Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB)

season.

During the season, measures will apply to certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from, 37 Countries departing

1 September 2023 – 30 April 2024.

Target high-risk cargo

Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications are target high-risk goods and will require mandatory treatment for BMSB:

36 – Explosives; pyrotechnic products	74 – Copper and articles thereof	83 – Miscellaneous articles of base metals
44 – Wood and articles of wood	75 – Nickel and articles thereof	84 – Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
45 – Cork and articles of cork	76 – Aluminum and articles thereof	85 – Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof
57 – Carpets and other textile floor coverings	78 – Lead and articles thereof	86 – Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof
68 – Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials	79 – Zinc and articles thereof	87 – Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof
69 – Ceramic products	80 – Tin and articles thereof	88 – Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof
70 – Glass and glass ware	81 – Other base metals; cermet’s	89 – Ships, boats and floating structures
72 – Iron and steel	82 – Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal	93 – Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof
73 – Articles of iron or steel

Untreatable cargo

Cargo that does not fall into a target high-risk category and that is not able to be treated due to the treatment method being harmful to the product will be heavily scrutinised prior to shipment and may require BMSB declarations to be cosigned by the destination customs broker.

These will be serviced as follows:

Packaging

Impervious wrappings must be removed, opened or slashed prior to fumigation in such a way to allow the treatment to come into contact with the goods, this must occur regardless of the treatment location.

Gateways

Any cargo being booked via our Asian Gateways (Singapore/ Port Kelang/Hong Kong/Busan) will require the Shipper to disclose the country of manufacture prior to bookings being accepted.

Mis-declared goods

Any cargo that is found to be declared incorrectly will incur significant costs, including, but not limited to:

• BMSB Mis-Declaration Fee
• Treatment Costs
• Container Detention Costs
• Re-Export and Import Costs

Payment of these costs will be required before the mis-declared goods will be released.

Please make sure your suppliers submit declarations on time and accurately to avoid delays and/or heavy fines and additional costs.

A full list of the measures and Target Risk Countries is available on the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) website. It is strongly recommended all importers and your suppliers review this information.

Department Of Agriculture inspections and FID verification

As with last season, DAWE will continue to perform random Treatment verification inspections on containers that have been treated offshore. All additional costs incurred will be apportioned by m3 to all consignees in affected containers.

Also, FID verifications from DAWE increased. To enable containers to be released ALL consignees must have FID’s submitted. Please ensure you lodge as early as possible to ensure the container is not delayed or additional costs incurred.

 

*Chapter 94 – Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; luminaires and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings.

**Chapter 95 – Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof