October 2017
The Ministry for Primary Industries has the following measures to manage the risk of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) infestations in break bulk and containerised sea cargo from the United States and Italy. The measures require mandatory treatment prior to the shipment of some goods such as vehicles and machinery.
The target goods’ season dates currently differ for the USA and Italy at the moment but MPI intends to align them in 2018. A new vehicle Import Health Standard is being drafted for consultation in November 2017.
The 2017-18 BMSB season is the first time that MPI is actively targeting goods from Italy.
Summary of measures
Break bulk
Targeted goods shipped as break bulk on or after 1 September 2017 and before 30 April 2018 must undergo offshore treatment, unless subject to safeguarding arrangements approved by MPI.
Flat racks, open top or soft top containers will be considered as Breakbulk due to the risk of BMSB being able to escape.
Goods that arrive untreated may be refused discharge and be reshipped.
Containerised
FCL/ FCX containerised vehicles and machinery are subject to the same requirements as break bulk: loaded on or after 1 September 2017 and before 30 April 2018 must undergo treatment, unless subject to safeguarding arrangements approved by MPI. Treatment may be up to 21 days prior to shipping.
FCL/FCX containerised vehicles and machinery that arrive untreated will require mandatory treatment onshore. Containers will be permitted discharge to the wharf if the seals are intact and moved to a transitional facility for treatment.
Flat racks, open top or soft top containers will be considered as Breakbulk due the risk of BMSB being able to escape if they arrive untreated may be refused discharge and be reshipped.
All containerised goods from Hungary, Italy and the USA are being targeted for BMSB and may be inspected.
Season dates
The measures apply to target goods shipped from:
• the United States all year round (soon to be revised), and
• Italy from 1 September 2017 to 30 April 2018 inclusive, and will remain in place for the entire season unless pest infestations are detected. Should this occur emergency requirements may be applied similar to those applied in the 2014-15 season
1 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Measures Guidence October 2017
Target goods
As per last season, new and used vehicles, vessels and machinery will continue to be the primary target goods.
BMSB inspections
BMSB inspections will be conducted throughout the season for specific goods from Hungary, Italy and the United States, as well as countries of emerging BMSB concern. This activity is to ensure that the 2017-18 measures are effectively managing the BMSB risk. Industry also has a legal obligation under the Biosecurity Act 1993 to notify MPI of risk issues, such as BMSB. Further information on reporting pests available on MPI’s website and below.
Treatments
Treatment specifications are one of the following options:
a. Heat treatment at 600C for 10 minutes for items weighing less than 3,000 kg. or;
b. Heat treatment at 600C for 20 minutes for items weighing more than 3,000 kg.
or;
c. Methyl bromide fumigation at 48 g/m3 for 24 hours at 10-150C.
or;
d. Methyl bromide fumigation at 40 g/m3 for 24 hours at 15-210C.
or;
e. Sulfuryl fluoride fumigation at 16g/m3 for 12 hours with a minimum dose reading of 8g/ rn3 at a temperature of 10OC or greater to achieve a CT of 144 g.h/ m3.
All new and used vehicles and machinery imported via air freight do not require treatment as outlined as above, but such cargo will be risk assessed and may be subject to treatment or inspection or both where required.
Treatment time before loading
Italy: treatment must be conducted within 120 hours of loading for shipment from the port of export
USA: 96 hours
Treatment of containerised cargo may be up to 21 days prior to shipping but treatment to be conducted within 24 hours of arrival at the place of first arrival in NZ but preshipment treatment is preferred and will facilitate clearance on arrival.
2 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Measures Guidence October 2017
Segregation of treated and untreated goods
It is advisable to keep treated and untreated break bulk goods physically segregated both on wharf prior to loading and on vessel. This will help avoid the risk of cross-contamination.
Treatment certificates must:
• identify the cargo treated and include a unique identifiable link to the consignment
• specify the date of BMSB treatment, the type of treatment, and the timeframe
• include a declaration that the goods were treated prior to any plastic wrapping.
Bills of lading
Bills of lading must include the shipped on board date. MPI uses the shipped on board date on the bill of lading as the date shipped from the US or Italy, thus determining whether target goods are subject to the seasonal measures.
Submission of documentation
If the required documents are not submitted in time or are incomplete, the goods will be regarded as untreated and directed for treatment onshore. Break bulk goods that cannot be verified as treated may be re-shipped. It is therefore recommended that documents be lodged correctly, and at least 48 hours prior to vessel arrival.
Voluntary trapping
Light traps have been effective in previous seasons in capturing BMSB on board break bulk vessels, and facilitate early notification and proactive response to the pest. Manufacturers, importers and shipping line operators are encouraged to operate traps at manufacturing and storage facilities, load ports and on board shipping vessels to monitor for the presence of the pest. Voluntary implementation of vessel trapping may reduce the need of departmental verification of the vessel on arrival. Any detections of pests should be reported to MPI.
Alternative arrangements—safeguarding
Safeguarding is a detailed pest risk management plan/system that can be implemented by industry offshore in consultation with MPI, as an alternative to the mandatory pre-shipment treatment requirements. Safeguarding arrangements will need to be approved by MPI prior to departure of the goods for New Zealand. Information on safeguarding eligibility and requirements is available on the MPI website.
Charging
All charges for MPI’s services in documentary processing, risk assessments and inspections will be directed to the owner/importer of the goods automatically, using existing entry management processes for all imported goods. This will be revised only if a new infestation of viable BMSB is detected on board a vessel prior to goods discharge to the wharf.
