The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an exotic pest of biosecurity concern to Australia’s agriculture industry. Given an increase in occurrences of the pest arriving Australia in break-bulk shipments from the United States the Australian Department of Agriculture has issued new requirements to address these concerns.

Effective immediately all containerized and break-bulk cargo; including machinery, vehicles, boats, vessels, automotive parts, and tires, originating from any USA port must meet the following treatment requirements.

Mandatory treatments must be applied to:

• All break-bulk cargo to include machinery, vehicles, vessels, boats, automotive parts, and tires within 72 hours prior to loading.
• All containerized shipments to include machinery, vehicles, vessels, boats, automotive parts, and tires within 21 days prior to shipment providing containers are immediately sealed and arrive Australia “seals intact”.

Acceptable pre-shipment treatments include:

• Heat treated to a temperature of 140°F (60°C) for 30 minutes as measured at the physical location on the cargo where the initial (pre-heat treatment) temperature was the lowest.
• Fumigated with Methyl Bromide (MB) at the concentration of 32g/cbm at 70-77°F (21-25°C) for a 24 hour period, 40g/cbm at 61-68°F (16-20°C) for a 24 hour period, or 48g/cbm at 52-59°F (11-15°C) for a 24 hour period.
• Sulfuryl fluoride at a concentration of 32g/cbm at 70-77°F (21-25°C) for a 24 hour period, or 40g/cbm at 61-68°F (16-20°C) for a 24 hour period.
• Other pre-shipment treatments or measurement arrangements as approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture.

For more detailed information please visit http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/import/general-info/cargo-and-shipping-news-and-activities/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs-faqs.