Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Requirements for shipments from North America to Australia and New Zealand

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) & NZ Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has confirmed the 2024-25 BMSB (Brown Marmorataed Stink Bug) seasonal measures will apply to targeted goods manufactured and shipped from target risk countries, that have been shipped between 1 September 2024 and 30 April 2025 (inclusive), and to vessels that berth, load, or transship from target risk countries within the same period.

The shipped-on board date, as indicated on the Ocean Bill of lading is the date used to determine when goods have been shipped. BMSB 2024-25 risk season measures, will apply to; Target goods manufactured in, and shipped from target risk countries, and/or Vessels that berth at, load, or transship from target risk countries. These requirements apply as follows:

Australia

• ETD September 1, 2024 through ETA April 30, 2025
• Pre-arrival/Offshore fumigation is mandatory for target high risk goods shipped as breakbulk, including those in open top or flat rack containers. All open tops, flat racks, and OOG cargo that fail to comply with BMSB measures will be retained on board, returned to the origin, or sent for transshipment and fumigation. All associated costs will be borne by the customer.
• AusTreat is the new treatment scheme that all offshore providers must comply with for the 2024-25 season. Learn more about AusTreat here

New Zealand

• ETD September 1, 2024 through ETA April 30, 2025
• Pre-arrival/Offshore fumigation is mandatory for any sea container in accordance with the MPI’s Vehicles, Machinery and Parts Import Health Standard.
• All containers that fail to comply with BMSB measures that must be retained on board, returned to the origin, or sent for transshipment and fumigation. All associated costs will be borne by the customer.

Please follow this link for Australia and this link for New Zealand to check if your cargo is subject to pre-arrival treatment, and to familiarize yourself with the requirements.

Maersk Requirements:

• For cargo requiring treatment prior to arrival in Australia or New Zealand, Maersk requires a copy of the fumigation certificate.
• If the cargo is categorized as one requiring pre-arrival treatment, but is exempt under these provisions, Maersk requires supporting documentation.
• The fumigation certificate/exemption documentation is due no later than 12:00pm local port time on the day of port cutoff at the US or Canadian load port. This deadline will be included in the booking confirmation.
• Documents should be sent via email attachment to NAMCUSVEH@maersk.com, with the following wording in the Subject line: “Booking Number XXXXXXXXX (insert your booking #) Fumigation Certificate”.
• Maersk will not load cargo from North America without a valid fumigation certificate, exclusion documentation, or written commitment to arrange fumigation services at transshipment port. Containers not loaded for this reason will be subject to a container shifting fee and export demurrage.

If you have any questions, please contact your local Maersk representative. Information for your local Maersk offices can be found at Countries.