The BMSB - have you taken your precautions?

In response to the rapid expansion of BMSB through Europe and North America, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources in Australia has strengthened measures to manage risk of BMSB from arriving in Australia for the 2019-2020 risk season.

For the 2019-2020 season, certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries, as sea cargo between 1 September 2019 and 30 April 2020 (inclusive), will be subject to BMSB requirements on arrival.

Below is a link to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website, which outlines the proposed measures, target risk countries, target high-risk goods, target risk goods, treatment options, etc. The first 4 points have been listed into one BMSB document for your easy reference. Still, we want to highlight specifically the following points, since it can impact greatly on import clearance issues, delays and unnecessary costs:

• Mandatory offshore treatment of target high risk goods shipped as break bulk cargo including goods shipped in open top containers or on flat rack containers will continue to be required. Untreated breakbulk will be denied discharge and be directed for export on arrival.
• Mandatory offshore treatment of target high risk goods shipped as LCL (less than container load) and FAK (freight of all kinds) is being proposed under the 2019–20 season.
  Target high risk goods requiring mandatory offshore treatment that arrive untreated, or treated by an unapproved treatment provider in a target risk country, will be directed for export on arrival.
• Full Container Loads (FCL) with target high risk goods shipped in sealed six hard sided containers can continue to be treated offshore or on onshore at the container level. Deconsolidation or removal of goods will not be permitted before treatment. No exemptions for deconsolidation on arrival will be considered.

You can find more details about the proposed measures towards the BMSB on the Australian Governments’ website.