New Stink Bug Pest emergency measures for break bulk cargo from U.S. east coast

As a result of increased interceptions of the Stink Bug pest in break bulk imports arriving in Australia and New Zealand, the Department of Agriculture has issued Notices to Industry (2/2015) advising of new emergency measures to be introduced from 23^rd February 2015 for all break bulk vehicles (including boats), machinery, automotive parts, containerized machinery and tyres being shipped from the east coast ports of the United States.

The pest has caused major treatment difficulties and logistic issues in the management of this risk onshore in both countries.

The notice includes interim measures for consignments in transit from the ports of Savannah and Baltimore and updates Notices to Industry 125/2014 which advised of new requirements for break bulk cargo imported from the United States port of Savannah following significant interceptions of Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (Halyomorpha halys).

Both notices are available at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import.

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is an exotic pest of biosecurity concern to Australia’s agriculture industry. Juveniles and adults feed on and severely damage fruit and vegetable crops, and adults can enter vehicles, machinery, homes and factories in autumn months in large numbers looking for warm places to hide over winter.

What has changed?

• Pre-shipment treatment requirements are being expanded to include high risk cargo arriving in Australia from ALL remaining United States ports from 9 March 2015.

• In addition to the pre-shipment treatments outlined in 02-2015, the department will also accept methyl bromide treatment 40g/m3@16-20°C for 24 hours or 48g/m3@11-15°C for 24 hours.

• The pre-treatment timeframe for break bulk cargo has been expanded from “within 48” to “within 72” hours prior to loading.

• The pre-treatment time specifications for containerised cargo have been changed from “within 24 hours prior to being containerised” to “within 21 days prior to shipment providing containers are immediately sealed and arrive in Australia “seals intact”.
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Tariff codes and descriptions for the high risk cargo that require pre-shipment treatment can be viewed in the following document Stink Bug – Affected Tariff Codes requiring Treatment

Photo by L’eau Bleue