The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) season 2025/26 began on September 1, and the relevant Australian and New Zealand authorities have set out their requirements for the current season to ensure that these bugs stay out of their countries.
BMSB seasonal measures apply to targeted goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries, that have been shipped between September 1 and April 30, and to vessels that berth, load or tranship from target risk countries within the same period. The shipped-on board date is the date used to determine when goods have been shipped; gate in dates and times are not accepted to determine when goods are shipped.
This season’s changes are the addition of South Korea and Japan to the emerging risk countries list; target high risk goods arriving as airfreight from the USA and China will be subject to random inspections; the addition of a new offshore BMSB treatment option in the form of ethyl formate; and a new application process for the BMSB in-transit and rolled policy.
For this season, both Australia and New Zealand have a total 41 countries in the target risk country list with the UK, China, Japan and South Korea earmarked as emerging risk countries and may be selected for a random onshore inspection.
Subsequent to these alterations, BIMCO has advised its members that are operating ships destined for Australia, New Zealand and Chile – and possibly Fiji – that the above BMSB seasonal measures are complied with so to avoid vessels being turned away from their territorial waters.
