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Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Before you import goods
  5. Seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)
  6. What happens to your goods on arrival during the BMSB season?

Sidebar first - Import

  • Seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)
    • Offshore BMSB treatment providers scheme
      • Guidance factsheets for conducting BMSB treatments
      • List of offshore BMSB treatment providers
      • Summary of recent changes to the list of offshore BMSB treatment providers
    • Preparing to import BMSB goods
    • Safeguarding arrangements
    • Management of LCL/FAK containers
    • What happens to your goods on arrival
    • Management of vessels

What happens to your goods on arrival during the BMSB season?

For the 2021-22 BMSB risk season, BMSB seasonal measures will apply to targeted goods manufactured and shipped from target risk countries, that have been shipped between 1 September 2021 and 30 April 2022 (inclusive).

Industry are strongly encouraged to have their target high risk goods treated offshore and by an approved provider (where possible) prior to arrival into Australian territory to minimise clearance delays and associated industry costs that may be incurred for onshore treatment.

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Will the department be conducting onshore random verification inspections this season?

  • All target high risk and target risk goods will be subject to random verification inspections and will be directed for onshore treatment if BMSB is detected.
  • Where goods are shipped as break bulk, random inspections are required to be conducted at a Class 21.1AA. For goods shipped in flat rack and open top containers, these inspections will be able to be conducted at Class 1.1 and Class 1.3 AA.
  • Containerised goods will be directed for a seals intact unpack inspection under departmental supervision at an AA site.
  • All random onshore verification inspections are required to be completed in a metropolitan location.

How can I book/change an inspection or advise information about my goods?

Industry can book an inspection and advise additional information regarding their goods using the attached Request for Inspection Form.

For approval to have an inspection conducted at a non AA, please contact the Inspections Group in the corresponding regional office on 1800 900 090.

To advise any additional information for your goods please submit a request via COLS.

Can I use Automatic Entry Processing for Commodities (AEPCOMM) for goods subject to the seasonal measures?

Yes, you can. To assist you in lodging declarations under the AEPCOMM approved arrangement during BMSB season, the BMSB hitchhiker pests Biosecurity Import Conditions database (BICON) case includes AEPCOMM pathways and codes. This information is available through your BICON AEPCOMM user access.

Use AEPCOMM:

  • For goods subject to target high risk BMSB measures.
  • To manage the clearance of other goods subject to biosecurity.

Please remember that to comply with the class 19.2 requirements and conditions for goods treated by offshore treatment providers, you must enter their AEI number in the AEI field of the import declaration, in conjunction with the applicable AEPCOMM code as specified in the BICON BMSB hitchhiker case.

By using AEPCOMM you will speed clearance time, reduce documentation assessment intervention and costs.
Please refer to our Automatic Entry Processing (AEP) webpage for important resources and guidance on BMSB lodgements using AEPCOMM

Information about onshore treatment and treatment providers

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Where can I find a list of onshore treatment providers?

To find out where onshore treatments may be performed, visit our list of approved arrangement sites.

Onshore treatment of target high risk goods is permitted for goods shipped in sealed six hard sided containers. Treatment must be conducted at the container level as deconsolidation or removal of goods will not be permitted prior to treatment.

For goods shipped as break bulk, including those shipped in open top or as flat rack containers, onshore treatment is not permitted. Untreated break bulk will be directed for export.

What happens if my goods are not suitable for onshore treatment by a BMSB treatment provider?

The AA Class 4.7 enables secure unpack of containers for BMSB treatment when a department approved (Class 12) treatment provider has notified the department that in-container BMSB treatment will not be effective at the container level.

Conditions for this class require container unpacks to be performed in a secure area to ensure BMSB does not escape into the Australian environment.
The objective of the class is to:

  • remedy issues that originally prevented treatment at the container level
  • enable the treatment to be carried out.

The class does not authorize:

  • removal of goods, or
  • deconsolidation of containers.

Note: The whole consignment remains subject to treatment.

Requests for secure unpack for treatments of seasonal hitchhiker biosecurity pests will be sent by the treatment provider to the Onshore treatment team via email (treatments@awe.gov.au) for actioning.

Once a department approved (Class 12) treatment provider has notified the department that in-container treatment will not be effective, the department must either:

  • Direct the goods to an AA Class 4.7 site for a secure unpack, or;
  • Have the goods exported.

Note: The AA Class 4.7 cannot be used as a first option for treatment or for the purpose of splitting the consignment to treat select lines. Only after the initial Class 12 treatment provider notifies the department that the goods cannot be treated will a consignment be directed to a Class 4.7 treatment provider.

Addressing other biosecurity requirements in addition to BMSB risk

Goods will be subject to all other biosecurity requirements as per BICON, which may include documentary assessment and/or inspection after the BMSB risk has been addressed.

What happens if my goods are not compliant on arrival?

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Break bulk goods including those shipped in open top or on flat rack containers

Untreated target high risk goods shipped as break bulk, including those shipped in open top or on flat rack containers, will be directed for export. Where these goods are identified prior to a vessels arrival into Australia, they will be denied discharge from that vessel.

Untreated target high risk goods shipped as break bulk, including those shipped in open top or as flat rack containers, that have been unloaded from the vessel will require containment of the risk (such as tarping) within 24 hours of discharge, held at the wharf and will be directed for export within 48 hours of arrival.
If the goods are not able to be exported within 48 hours of arrival, daily monitoring and inspection of the goods will be required until they are exported.

Note: All monitoring and inspection of goods prior to export will be conducted by a Biosecurity officer and fee for service charges will apply

Containerised goods shipped in sealed six hard sided containers

Onshore treatment of target high risk goods shipped in sealed six hard sided containers is permitted. Deconsolidation or removal of goods prior to treatment is not permitted.

Untreated target high risk goods shipped as containerised cargo will be directed for export if they cannot be treated at the container level or if the importer has chosen to export the goods. They may be directed to move to an AA site pending export which must be conducted within 7 days of arrival at the AA site.

Note: All monitoring and inspection of goods prior to export will be conducted by a Biosecurity officer and fee for service charges will apply

Containerised goods shipped as Less than Container Load (LCL) in Freight of all Kinds (FAK) containers

Goods shipped as LCL consignments in FAK containers from target risk countries will be managed at the container level for BMSB risk. Onshore treatment of target high risk goods shipped in sealed six hard sided containers is permitted. Deconsolidation or removal of goods prior to treatment is not permitted.

Untreated target high risk goods shipped in LCL/FAK containers will be directed for export if they cannot be treated at the container level or if the importer has chosen to export the goods. They may be directed to move to an AA site pending export which must be conducted within 7 days of arrival at the AA site.

Note: All monitoring and inspection of goods prior to export will be conducted by a Biosecurity officer and fee for service charges will apply

Where can I find fees and charges information?

Biosecurity activities operate under a cost-recovery system where charges for assessment and inspection activities are payable under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Information about the department’s cost recovery legislation and policy authority, as well as information on the department’s charging guidelines is available at Fees and charges.

Contacts

Call 1800 900 090

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Last updated: 03 November 2021

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.