Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB)

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) (Halyomorpha halys) is an insect common in many countries, but exotic to Australia.

Adult BMSBs are 12 to 17 millimeters long and mottled with a slight reddish tinge. Adult BMSBs have distinctive black and white stripes on the abdominal edge with white stripes on the last two antennae segments.

BMSB can produce huge populations that become a major problem for the agricultural industry as it preys on over 300 species of plants and trees. It is also a nuisance in households, because it attacks houses in mass numbers and, as the name suggests, emits a disgusting smell.

BMSB is native to East Asia, mainly China, Japan and South Korea. After an accidental introduction, BMSB spread very quickly in the United States and Europe, so it could potentially become established in Australia.

Whereas Australia’s isolation offers a level of protection, the environment there is suitable for some exotic pests and diseases to establish and thrive.

International travel and trade give BMSB an opportunity to find its way to Australia. It can arrive on all kinds of cargo, and on/in sea containers coming from risk countries, especially between September and April – which coincides with late autumn and winter in the northern hemisphere. This is called the BMSB risk season.

Seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)

BMSB seasonal measures will apply to targeted goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries, that have been shipped between 1 September and 30 April (inclusive), and to vessels that berth, load, or tranship from target risk countries within the same period.

Note: The shipped on board date, as indicated on the Ocean Bill of Lading, is the date used to determine when goods have been shipped. “Gate in” dates and
times will not be accepted to determine when goods are shipped. We continuously review the measures throughout the season and may make necessary adjustments based on detections of BMSB and changes in the risk pathways.

BMSB Measures for goods

  • If your goods are classed as target high risk, they will require mandatory treatment.
  • If your goods are classed as target risk, they will be subject to random inspection.
  • If your goods are not found in either category, they are not subject to BMSB measures, however, will be subject to the measures if packed with target high risk or risk goods.

Treatment of target high risk goods

  • Target high risk goods treated in target risk countries must be treated by a treatment provider listed as ‘approved’ on the List of treatment providers.

Break bulk goods

  • Break bulk includes those goods shipped on flat racks and in open top containers.
  • All target high risk goods shipped as break bulk must be treated offshore prior to arrival into Australia.
  • Untreated break bulk will be directed for export.
  • Onshore treatment is not permitted.

Containerised goods

  • Containerised cargo arriving in sealed six hard sided containers with target high risk goods can be treated offshore, or onshore at the container level.
  • Refrigerated containers (operating and non-operating) and hard top sealed containers (ISO22U6/ISO22UP, ISO42U6/ISO42UP and ISO45U6/ISO45UP) are deemed to be the same as six hard sided sealed containers.
  • 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.

Target goods subject to the measures

Target high risk goods

Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications have been categorised as target high risk goods and will require mandatory treatment for BMSB risk.

  • 44 – Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal
  • 45 – Cork and articles of cork
  • 57 – Carpets and other textile floor coverings
  • 68 – Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials
  • 69 – Ceramic products – including sub chapters I and II
  • 70 – Glass and glass ware
  • 72 – Iron and steel – including sub chapters I, II, III, IV
  • 73 – Articles of iron or steel
  • 74 – Copper and articles thereof
  • 75 – Nickel and articles thereof
  • 76 – Aluminium and articles thereof
  • 78 – Lead and articles thereof
  • 79 – Zinc and articles thereof
  • 80 – Tin and articles thereof
  • 81 – Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof
  • 82 – Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal
  • 83 – Miscellaneous articles of base metals
  • 84 – Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
  • 85 – Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
  • 86 – Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds
  • 87 – Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof
  • 88 – Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof
  • 89 – Ships, boats and floating structures

Target risk goods

Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications have been categorised as target risk goods and are only subject to increased onshore intervention through random inspection. Mandatory treatment is not required.

  • 27 – Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes
  • 28 – Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes – including sub chapters I, II, III, IV and V
  • 29 – Organic chemicals – including sub chapters I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII and XIII
  • 38 – Miscellaneous chemical products
  • 39 – Plastics and articles thereof – – including sub chapters I and II
  • 40 – Rubber and articles thereof
  • 48 – Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard
  • 49 – Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans
  • 56 – Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof

Treatment types and rates for BMSB

Heat

For all good types and sizes

  • 56°C or higher at the coldest surface of the goods, for a minimum of 30 minutes or
  • for individual goods weighing less than 3000 kg shipped as break bulk only, 60°C or higher at the coldest surface of the goods, for a minimum of 10 minutes

Note: Individual goods shipped as break bulk weighing less than 3000kg treated at 60°C for 10 minutes require evidence within shipping documentation that they are
less than 3000kg for these treatments to be accepted.

Sulfuryl Fluoride

  • A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for a minimum of 12 hours (but less than 24 hours), and a minimum end point reading of 12 g/m³ or
  • A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for 24 hours or longer, and a minimum end point reading of 8 g/m³

Note:

  • All start time concentration readings must be above 24 g/m³.
  • Dose increases to compensate for temperatures less than 10°C is NOT permitted.
  • Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted.
  • If the concentration of fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed.

Source:

  • https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs#daff-page-main