Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Season 2025 – 2026

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) isn’t just another creepy-crawly — it’s a serious agricultural villain. Left unchecked, these pests can devastate crops of fruits and vegetables and wreak havoc on our biosecurity. To make matters worse, they don’t just stop at farms: during autumn they swarm into vehicles, homes and factories, looking for a cosy winter hideaway.  Sometimes they can even cause allergic reactions.

To protect Australia, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has rolled out its latest BMSB seasonal measures for 2025–2026, and we urge importers to stay vigilant.

⚠️ Remember: It is the shipper/consignee’s responsibility to ensure cargo is compliant with BMSB requirements before shipping.

Australia 2025 – 2026 BMSB Season Measures

The BMSB measures apply to targeted goods manufactured in, or shipped from, target risk countries between 1 September 2025 and 30 April 2026 (inclusive). The same applies to vessels that berth, load, or tranship from these countries during this period.

👉 Note: The shipped-on-board date (as listed on the Ocean Bill of Lading) is what counts. “Gate in” dates won’t get you off the hook.

Target Risk Countries

DAFF maintains the official list of target risk countries on its website.

In addition, emerging risk countries will again be subject to random inspections:

• China – goods shipped between 1 September and 31 December (inclusive)
• United Kingdom – goods shipped between 1 December and 30 April (inclusive)

Target Goods

Goods that are subject to the measures are categorized as target high risk goods or target risk goods.  Please see the list of Target Goods on the DAFF website to see if your goods fall into either of these categories.

Goods are categorised as either target risk or target high risk:

• Target risk goods → random inspections, no mandatory treatment.
• Target high risk goods → mandatory offshore treatment.
• Everything else → no measures… unless packed with high-risk or risk goods (because stink bugs love a free ride).
• Iso-tanks and bulk-in-hold shipments are not subject to BMSB measures.

Treatment of target high risk goods

• Must be treated offshore by a DAFF-approved provider (see the official list).
• Containerised goods may be treated offshore or onshore.
• Break bulk must be treated offshore only — untreated break bulk will be directed for export (a very expensive “return to sender”).

Break bulk goods

• Breakbulk includes those goods shipped on flat rack and open top containers.  FCL modified containers (such as those with in-built power generators, filtration, portable accommodation etc. are no longer sealed 6 hard sided containers and are considered breakbulk cargo). 
• All target high risk goods shipped as breakbulk must be treated offshore only prior to arrival into Australia.
• Untreated breakbulk will be directed for export.
• Automated Entry Processing for Commodity (AEPCOMM) arrangements for BMSB is permitted for break bulk goods. See relevant BICON commodities for assessment and outcomes through DAFF.

Containerised Goods (FCL, FCX)

• Containerised cargo (including refrigerated and hard top) arriving in sealed six hard sided containers with target high risk goods can be treated offshore, or onshore at the container level.
• Onshore treatment of goods is to occur at the container level. Deconsolidation or removal of goods from the container will not be permitted prior to treatment.
• Containers should be packed in a manner that will enable effective onshore treatment at the container level to avoid possible export of the container.
• AEPCOMM arrangements for BMSB is permitted. See relevant BICON commodities for assessment and outcomes.
• A sealing declaration can be utilised for FCL / FCX containers in the following circumstances:
  • Goods were containerised and sealed prior to 1 September, but shipped on board after this date; or
  • The bill of lading does not state the shipped-on board date; or
  • Target high risk goods were manufactured, packed and sealed in a container in a non-target risk country but have been shipped from a target risk country; or
  • Goods were sealed inside the container within 120 hours of treatment occurring offshore (for treatments conducted prior to 1 December).

Note: Sealing declarations must be completed and signed by either the exporter, freight forwarder, or shipping company at the port of origin.

Note: Container tracking information may be used as supplementary means of confirming shipped on board date. It cannot be used as the primary form of evidence. Container tracking information is insufficient for demonstrating when goods were sealed in a container.

Containerised Goods (LCL, FAK)

• LCL and FAK (Freight of all Kinds) must be treated at the container level for BMSB risk prior to deconsolidation.
• Once the BMSB risk has been managed, the consignments within these containers will be processed at the Full Import Declaration (FID) level for all other biosecurity intervention (if applicable).

See the DAFF Management of LCL/FAK containers web page for more details.

Packing Requirements

• There are specific packing requirements that allow treatments to work effectively. 
• Containers should be packed in a manner that will enable onshore treatment at the container level to reach all internal and external surfaces. 
• Plastic wrapping must be clearly perforated.
• Consignments that are not packed to the required standard will be directed to a depot for a complete unpack and fumigation, which may require the packaging to be perforated.
• More information on packing requirements can be found in this DAFF guide.

RORO

All ro-ro vessels that berth at, load, or tranship in target risk countries between 1 September and 30 April (inclusive) will be required to:

• Conduct at least one crew inspection and respond to specific questions as part of the pre-arrival reporting requirements; and
• Undergo a mandatory seasonal pest inspection on arrival in Australia.

Known risk pathways and supply chains

Goods from known risk pathways and supply chains that have had previous detections of BMSB may be subject to BMSB intervention including treatment and/or inspections.

Treatment Types

Heat, Methyl Bromide and Sulfuryl Fluoride treatment only.

Onshore Treatment Providers

Where onshore treatment of goods is permitted (ie. for target high risk goods shipped in sealed hard six-sided containers, treatment must be conducted at the container level.  Deconsolidation or removal of goods will not be permitted before treatment.  You can find a list of approved arrangement providers on the DAFF website.

Offshore Treatment Providers

AusTreat sets out the department’s registration and compliance requirements for offshore treatment providers, including compliance with applicable treatment methodologies.  Further information can be found on the AusTreat webpage.

Requirements for Treatment Providers

In target risk countries: 

• All offshore treatment providers permforming BMSB treatments must be registered under AusTreat and listed as ‘approved’ on the List of treatment providers prior to treatment.
  
• Treatments conducted by an unapproved treatment provider in a target risk country will be deemed as invalid and the goods will be subject to onshore treatment (if permitted) or directed for export.

In non-target risk countries:

• Treatment providers who intend to conduct BMSB treatments for goods that are manufactured in or shipped from any of the target risk countries are encouraged to register under an offshore treatment assurance scheme.

• Treatment certificates issued by a treatment provider in non-target risk country will be accepted unless the:
  
• treatment provider is listed as ‘suspended’, ‘withdrawn’ or ‘under review’ on the DAFF List of treatment providers,
  or
• unregistered treatment provider is listed as ‘unacceptable’ or ‘under review’ on the DAFF webpage.

Non-Compliance

Non-compliance leads to costly delays, forced fumigation, or export. And yes, all costs fall on the importer. In other words, ignoring BMSB rules stinks — literally and financially.

Resources

If you are concerned about whether the goods you are importing will be affected by the Stink Bug measures, please consult the following for more detailed information:

• Visit the DAFF BMSB website
• Factsheet:  BMSB Seasonal Measures

The team at Clarke Global Logistics stays across every update, so you don’t have to. Call us on +61 3 9854 3000 or email enquiry@clarkeglobal.com.au and we’ll help you keep stink bugs (and compliance headaches) out of your supply chain.