Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB): Preparing for the New Zealand 2024–25 Risk Season

Risk and spread of the BMSB

A biosecurity risk

• A potential and severe pest feeding on more than 300 plant species.
• Often invade vehicles, homes, and factories in large numbers during autumn, looking for shelter over winter.
• Secretes a smelly chemical when threatened that can cause a burning sensation on skin contact.
• Their smell is an aeroallergen that can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Addressing the emerging risk

• Seasonal measures help manage risk during the high-risk season.
• Target high-risk and target-risk goods manufactured in or shipped from the target-risk countries as sea cargo between 1 September 2024 and 30 April 2025 (inclusive) as reflected on the Bill of Lading are subject to BMSB intervention.
• All BMSB treatment providers in target risk countries must be approved by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), details can be found on the MPI website.
• Target high-risk goods subject to 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.

Target-risk countries

BMSB management measures apply to:

• Any new and used target vehicles, machinery, and parts thereof (schedule 5) manufactured in, or shipped from these countries to New Zealand.
• Any vessel that tranships or loads goods from these countries are also subject to heightened screening for goods manufactured in, or shipped from these countries to New Zealand.
• Sea containers exported from Italy during the risk season.

Specific requirements

Vehicle, machinery, or parts—will require off-shore mandatory treatment

Download a declaration form for these goods from the MPI website.

Commodity type: Land vehicles

• Passenger vehicles
• Trucks
• Buses
• Caravans
• Campervans
• Tricycles
• Go-karts
• Motorcycles
• Scooters
• Snowmobiles
• Army/defense vehicles (with wheels)
• Amphibious vehicle
• ATVs and quad bikes
• Forklifts
• Golf carts
• Hägglunds
• Side-by-side racers
• Trailer including horse floats
• Trains and train carriages

Commodity type: Aircraft and watercraft

• Amphibious vehicles
• Gliders
• Helicopters
• Hot air balloons
• Hovercrafts
• Jet skis
• Motorized boats
• Planes
• Spacecrafts
• Sea scooters
• Trailers that are exported attached to watercraft or aircraft
• Yachts
• Zeppelins (airships)

Commodity type: Machinery

• Concrete mixing machinery
• Construction and roading machinery
• Cranes
• Farming machinery
• Forklifts
• Fruit-picking or harvesting machinery
• Food-processing machinery used to process animal or plant material
• Ground compactors
• Generators
• Indoor/outdoor grain-processing machinery
• Lifts (including boom, people, and scissor)
• Logging machinery
• Planting machinery
• Ride-on lawnmowers
• Seed-drilling machinery
• Ski lift or gondola machinery
• Straddle carriers
• Tracked machines (bulldozers, excavator, tractors)
• Tracked army defense machinery
• Tunnelling machinery
• Water-pumping machinery

Commodity type: Vehicle or machine parts

• Booms or frames
• Chassis
• Doors and panels
• Engines/motors
• Exhaust systems
• Grabbers, claws, scoops, and buckets
• Seats
• Suspension and braking units
• Tracks
• Tires (used and new)
• Wheels and mags
• Wings
• Wire cables or ropes

Sea containers from Italy—will require off-shore mandatory treatment

Sea containers from Italy

• Containers (and their contents) are required to be treated with an MPI-approved treatment before they arrive in New Zealand.
• If sea containers from Italy are transhipping through other countries for repacking or treatment on the way to New Zealand, then Italy must be listed as the country of origin with the appropriate supporting documents provided.
• More details on containers arriving from Italy can be found on the MPI website.

Sensitive goods from Italy—will be subject to heightened screening and may not require treatment

Commodity type: Sensitive goods

• Agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines
• Food for human consumption (including beverages)
• Food-grade packaging materials (such as thermal plastic film)
• Fresh produce
• Frozen food products
• Live animals
• Leather goods (apparel and furniture)
• Pet food
• Pharmaceutical products
• Polyurethane bales and foam products
• Refrigerated goods
• Seed for sowing
• Special category risk goods (chemical, explosive, mineral, radioactive, or volatile)
• Tank-tainers
• Textiles (including yarn)

Navigating treatment requirements

The Ministry for Primary Industry (MPI) encourages fumigation at destination.

• Mandatory offshore treatment is required for target-risk goods without a manufacturer's declaration.
• All cargo from Italy to New Zealand during the season must be treated offshore.
  • Sensitive cargo from Italy may not require treatment.
• Full Container Load (FCLs) of pre-owned or used target-risk goods require mandatory offshore fumigation.
• Open containers (flat racks or open tops) and breakbulk cargo require mandatory offshore fumigation.
• Less than Container (LCL) high-risk cargo from the United States will be treated off-shore.

Mandatory treatment requirements

Treatment options include:

• Heat treatment
• Methyl bromide fumigation
• Sulfuryl fluoride fumigation

Review the approved list of offshore treatment providers.

From Italy

• Goods packed and fumigated in a fully enclosed FCL or Freight All Kinds (FAK) must be treated and segregated from untreated risk goods, be loaded into the container, and closed within 120 hours and not reopened before export unless necessary to load other goods into FAK, reclosing immediately.
• Goods packed and fumigated in open containers or as break bulk and roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) must be shipped within 120 hours of fumigation.

From other target-risk countries

• Target high-risk goods packed and fumigated in a fully enclosed FCL or FAK must be treated and segregated from untreated risk goods, be loaded into the container, and closed within 120 hours and not reopened before export unless necessary to load other goods into FAK, reclosing immediately.
• Goods packed and fumigated in open containers or as break bulk and ro-ro must be shipped within 120 hours of fumigation.
• Specific commodity fumigation rules may apply for used items.

Packing requirements

• To conduct an effective BMSB treatment, goods must be presented in a manner that allows the heat or fumigant to reach all external and internal surfaces of the goods accessible to the pest.

• If the goods requiring treatment are plastic wrapped, the plastic wrapping must be slashed or adjusted to allow adequate access for the fumigant or heat to penetrate the goods for the treatment to be effective.

• Adequate space must be available in between and around the goods within the packed container, this will allow for treatment to reach all external and internal surfaces of the goods

Minimize delays when treatment is required

• Reduce impediments by utilizing offshore treatment by approved providers.
• Provide early and accurate documentation, including all the details of treatment.
• Expect treatment certificates to be checked for compliance.
• Noncompliance with regulations will result in exportation of shipment.

Work with C.H. Robinson’s Trusted Advisor® experts to understand your specific risks and next steps.