Industry News

BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG (BMSB) - Emergency Measures on Imports from Italy

Please be advised that the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug measures implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources previously have been increased to include ALL containerised shipments from Italy loaded between 1st September 2017 and 30th April 2018.

To manage the risk posed, Emergency measures have been implemented to include all sea freight shipments from Italy (FCL, FCX & LCL), which will now (with the exception of fresh produce, live animals, food for human consumption and seeds) require mandatory treatment upon arrival into Australia - unless a valid offshore treatment certificate is provided. Shipments that are not directed for treatment may still be selected for inspection to validate treatment effectiveness. 

With the influx of containers requiring fumigation and the limited availability of designated licenced premises to carrier out the fumigation, Paul Zalai from FTA/APSA advises that "...depot representatives have highlighted extensive delays in fumigation with one noting that they have turned away 65 containers and another quoting a backlog of 117 containers to be processed".

TCF has received notification from one of the Sydney based depots, ANJ Container Services, that they will be charging an Administration Levy per BMSB FCL container / LCL of $55.00 per container or $10.00 per cbm (min 3 cbm) to cover additional hours and administration costs. 

We will continue to work with our clients that are receiving containers from Italy in an effect to minimise delays and additional charges that may occur as a direct result of these emergency measures.

More information on these measures can be found on the Department of Agriculture website:

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/before/pests/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs

Should you have any questions relating to this matter please contact your local TCF representative.