Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Seasonal Guide

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) 2026/2027 Seasonal Guide
Effective 1 September 2026 to 30 April 2027 (inclusive)

To our valued partner,

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry have updated the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) seasonal measures that come into effect for the period 1 September 2026 to 30 April 2027 (inclusive). During this period, updated measures will apply to target goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries and to vessels that berth, load or tranship from target risk countries.

Further highlights are noted below with full details and updates available on The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website here.

Key changes for the 2026/2027 season

• NEW onshore BMSB treatment option – Ethyl Formate.
• Removal of the Rolled Goods Policy.
• Removal of the Safeguarding Scheme.

Similar to previous seasons:

• Goods classed as target high risk will require mandatory treatment.
• Goods classed as target risk will be subject to random inspection.
• If goods are not found in either category above, they are not subject to BMSB measures; however, they will be subject to the measures if packed with target high risk or target risk goods.
• Expect a zero-tolerance approach by authorities.
• Allow for increased clearance delays at the border to facilitate these measures.

The shipped-on board date, as indicated on the Ocean Bill of Lading, is the date used to determine when goods have been shipped. Gate-in dates and times will not be accepted to determine the shipment date.

Break Bulk & RoRo Goods – Mandatory Offshore Treatment Required
All target high risk goods shipped as break bulk must be treated offshore prior to arrival into Australia.

Onshore treatment is not permitted. Untreated incoming break bulk goods will be denied discharge or directed for export.

Please note: Break bulk includes goods shipped on flat racks and in open top containers.

Shipper Owned Containers (SOCs) and FCL containers that have been modified, such as those used to house in-built power generators, filtration plants, portable accommodation etc., are no longer considered sealed six-hard-sided containers and are considered break bulk cargo.

For BMSB target high-risk goods shipped as breakbulk, flat racks or open tops, if treated in a target-risk country before 1 December, the cargo must be shipped on board the export vessel within 120 hours of treatment (from ventilation commencement for fumigation or treatment completion for heat treatment). DAFF uses the shipped-on-board date on the ocean Bill of Lading as evidence.

If in doubt about how your goods are categorised, please contact us.

Containerised Goods
FCL and FCX

• Containerised cargo arriving in sealed six-hard-sided containers with target high risk goods can be treated offshore, or onshore at the container level.
• Refrigerated containers (operating and non-operating) and qualifying hard-top sealed containers are deemed to be the same as six-hard-sided sealed containers.
• Onshore treatment of goods is to occur at the container level. Deconsolidation or removal of goods from the container will not be permitted prior to treatment.
• Containers should be packed in a manner that will enable effective onshore treatment at container level to avoid possible export of the container.

Sealing Declarations
A sealing declaration can be utilised for FCL/FCX containers in certain circumstances, including where:

• Goods were containerised and sealed prior to 1 September but shipped on board after this date;
• The Bill of Lading does not state the shipped-on-board date;
• Target high risk goods were manufactured, packed and sealed in a container in a non-target risk country but shipped from a target risk country; or
• Goods were sealed inside the container within 120 hours of treatment occurring offshore for treatments conducted prior to 1 December.

Sealing declarations must be completed and signed by the exporter, freight forwarder or shipping company at the port of origin. Container tracking information is not accepted as evidence to verify when goods were loaded on board or sealed in a container.

LCL and FAK
LCL and FAK containers with target high risk goods will be managed at the container level for BMSB risk prior to deconsolidation.

Once BMSB risk has been managed, consignments within these containers will be processed at the Full Import Declaration (FID) level for all other biosecurity intervention, if applicable.

Airfreight
Random inspections will apply to target high risk goods shipped as airfreight from the United States of America and China between 1 September and 30 April inclusive.

BMSB treatment of these goods will not be required.

Target risk countries
The following countries below have been categorised as target risk:

The following countries have been identified as emerging risk countries for the BMSB risk season and may be selected for random onshore inspection:

United Kingdom, China, Japan and Republic of Korea.

Random inspections may apply to goods shipped from these countries between 1 September and 30 April (inclusive).

In addition to target high risk goods, Chapters 39, 94 and 95 will be subject to random inspections for emerging risk countries only.

Target Goods Subject to the Measures
Target High Risk Goods
Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications have been categorised as target high risk goods and will require mandatory treatment for BMSB risk:

• 44 – Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal
• 45 – Cork and articles of cork
• 57 – Carpets and other textile floor coverings
• 68 – Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials
• 69 – Ceramic products – including sub chapters I and II
• 70 – Glass and glass ware
• 72 – Iron and steel – including sub chapters I, II, III, IV
• 73 – Articles of iron or steel
• 74 – Copper and articles thereof
• 75 – Nickel and articles thereof
• 76 – Aluminium and articles thereof
• 78 – Lead and articles thereof
• 79 – Zinc and articles thereof
• 80 – Tin and articles thereof
• 81 – Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof
• 82 – Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal
• 83 – Miscellaneous articles of base metals
• 84 – Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
• 85 – Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
• 86 – Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds
• 87 – Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof
• 88 – Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof
• 89 – Ships, boats and floating structures

Target Risk Goods
Goods that fall within the following tariff classifications have been categorised as target risk goods and are only subject to increased onshore intervention through random inspection. Mandatory treatment is not required.

• 27 – Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes
• 28 – Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes – including sub chapters I, II, III, IV and V
• 29 – Organic chemicals – including sub chapters I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII and XIII
• 38 – Miscellaneous chemical products
• 39 – Plastics and articles thereof – including sub chapters I and II
• 40 – Rubber and articles thereof
• 48 – Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard
• 49 – Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts,  typescripts and plans
• 56 – Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof

For all other goods that are not categorised as target high risk and target risk goods, BMSB seasonal measures do not apply. However, if they are part of a container or consignment that contains target high risk or target risk goods, they will be subject to the measures.

We stress that customers make themselves aware of the full information provided in the Department link above.

We suggest you forward this information to your overseas suppliers so that they are fully aware of the BMSB requirements, especially in regard to packing / packaging, and the preference for goods to be treated offshore. This may assist to avoid any unnecessary delays / financial impacts during the upcoming season.

If you have any concerns, we strongly recommend that you send our customs team a copy of your purchase order BEFORE you send it to your supplier so that they can advise you of any potential issues.

The Sadleirs Global team will continue to participate in industry discourse to keep up to date with the latest Australian regulations and help you stay compliant. Our in-house Customs professionals are ready with any queries you may have this stink bug season and welcome your contact:

• Dylan Radford – dradford@sadleirs.com.au
• Jay Watson – jwatson@sadleirs.com.au
• Nathan Ostrowsky – nostrowsky@sadleirs.com.au
• Peter Vasilevski – pvasilevski@sadleirs.com.au

A printable version of this email is available here.

Kind regards,
Sadleirs Global Logistics