As Britannia Club informs, the BMSB is native to East Asia, specifically found in China, Japan and South Korea; it has aggressively invaded the US and Europe and is considered an invasive species by Australia and New Zealand.
Adult BMSBs are 12 to 17 millimetres long, mottled with a faint reddish tinge, and have distinctive black and white banding around the edge of the abdomen, along with white bands on the last two antennal segments.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Australia has published updated guidelines for upcoming seasonal measures period, starting 1 September 2024 to 30 April 2025 (inclusive). These guidelines apply to any target high-risk, or target risk goods manufactured in or shipped from a target risk country during the BMSB season.
WHAT CHANGED IN THE NEW UPDATE?
- This year, China and the Republic of Korea have been added to the heightened vessel surveillance list
- The AusTreat Pre-Border biosecurity treatment provider scheme has been introduced
- The Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme (VSPS), an alternative vessel clearance pathway for ro-ro vessels that existed in previous seasons, has been remove.
SEASONAL MEASURES FOR NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand BMSB seasonal measures apply to all breakbulk vessels arriving with cargo loaded from BMSB risk countries between 1 September 2024 and 30 April 2025 inclusive.
