Dear Customer,
With the 2026/27 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season commencing on 1 September 2026, we would like to remind customers that seasonal BMSB measures will apply to certain imports during this period. SCC will assist with managing and coordinating the applicable BMSB requirements for your shipments, if required.
BMSB measures apply to certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from, specified risk countries. Importantly, the requirements are determined by the country of manufacture as well as the country of shipment. This means cargo departing from a non-risk country may still be subject to BMSB measures if the goods were manufactured in a risk country.
What cargo is affected?
Mandatory treatment applies to target high-risk goods originating from or shipped from a BMSB risk country.
Target high-risk goods include:
- Wood and articles of wood
- Cork
- Carpets and textile floor coverings
- Articles of stone, plaster, cement and ceramic products
- Glass and glassware
- Iron, steel and other base metals
- Aluminium, copper, nickel, zinc and tin products
- Tools, cutlery and miscellaneous articles of base metal
- Machinery and mechanical appliances
- Electrical machinery and equipment
- Vehicles and parts
- Aircraft, ships and boats
There are also target risk goods which are subject to random inspection rather than mandatory treatment. These include products such as plastics, rubber, paper and paperboard, chemicals and certain textile materials.
Important – LCL Cargo
For LCL shipments, untreated target high-risk cargo can have significant consequences.
If an LCL line is identified as high-risk and approved BMSB treatment has not been completed prior to arrival, the entire container may be required to undergo treatment at destination. Any associated treatment, inspection or other costs will be charged to the cargo owner.
What does this mean for your shipments?
We recommend customers discuss BMSB requirements with their suppliers and shipping partners when planning upcoming shipments, particularly for cargo from BMSB risk countries.
A full list of BMSB risk countries, target goods and treatment requirements is available from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs
If you are unsure whether an upcoming shipment may be affected, please contact your SCC representative and we can assist in confirming the applicable requirements.