Stink Bug Season 2022-2023: What You Should Know and How it Can Impact Your Shipments

From September 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug season is in effect. These stink bugs can pose significant biohazard threats in Australia and New Zealand. Which is why both countries have implemented new seasonal import regulations in an effort to thwart the risk to your shipments.

What Is The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug?

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is considered an invasive species and is detected and spread throughout more than 40 countries. This stink bug typically invades vehicles, homes, and factories throughout the fall, as they search for shelter during the winter. They can also release a smelly chemical, when threatened, which can cause a burning sensation with skin contact.

Key Measures for Importers During the 2022-2023 Season

For this 2022-2023 season, there are several key measures for importers:

• The inclusion of China as an emerging risk country along with the UK. Shipments of goods from these countries classified with Chapter 94 (furniture, light fittings & prefab buildings) and Chapter 95 (toys & sports requisites) will be subject to random inspections
• Target risk countries remain unchanged
• Target high risk and target high risk goods remain unchanged
• The supervised seals intact inspection requirement has been changed to unpack/inspect at a quarantine approved premises. This requires the quarantine officer to spend less time on site and should therefore make the process more efficient.
• The mandatory treatment of break bulk shipments (including flat racks and open top containers) of target high risk goods offshore remains

Additionally, any target high risk or target risk goods that are manufactured in or shipped from the target risk countries (see below) will be subject to BMSB seasonal measures.

Target Risk/High Risk Countries and Goods

BMSB seasonal measures will be applied to targeted goods manufactured in or shipped target risk countries between September 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, and to any vessels that berth/load/or transship from target risk countries within the same period, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DOAFF) reports.

Some of the countries that are listed as a target risk are: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, the United States of America, and several other countries. The United Kingdom and China have been identified as emerging risk countries for the BMSB risk season and could be selected for a random onshore inspection, the Australian DOAFF reports.

Some of the target high risk goods that are subject to mandatory treatment for BMSB risk are: wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal, cork and articles of cork, carpets and other textile floor coverings, glass and glass ware, articles of iron or steel, and lots more.

You can read more about specific target high risk goods that will require mandatory treatment for BMSB risk, here.

Additionally, the list of target risk goods has NOT changed from 2021-2022. Some examples of target risk goods are rubber and articles thereof, salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement, printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry.

Target risk goods are NOT subject to mandatory treatment, but they will be subject to increased onshore intervention through random inspection.

You can read more about specific target risk goods that will require mandatory treatment for BMSB risk, here.

Looking Ahead

As Stink Bug Season is in full effect, it is important to know and understand the changing requirements as well as the packaging and treatment requirements for your specific commodities.

Should you have any questions regarding this and how it could impact your shipments, please reach out to our team today. Additionally, we have our weekly market updates that can provide you with relevant freight news, updates, developments across the industry, and more.

Last November, our team of experts touched base on last year’s stink bug season during our live Coffee & Cargo webinar!