Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) seasonal measures for Australia and New Zealand imports

18 August 2026

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is an agricultural, horticultural, and social pest that feeds on hundreds of plant species and poses a significant risk to the agricultural industries of Australia and New Zealand.

BMSB seasonal measures from Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) apply to relevant goods shipped or exported during the 2026-27 BMSB risk season, from 1 September 2026 to 30 April 2027 inclusive.

During this period, shipments from identified risk countries may be subject to additional import requirements, including mandatory treatment, documentary requirements, and inspections.

What customers need to know

• Requirements differ by destination market, cargo type, country of origin, and shipping route.
• Where treatment is required, customers are encouraged to complete treatment at origin through an approved offshore treatment provider to reduce the risk of delays on arrival.
• Customers should confirm BMSB applicability before shipment, including origin country, cargo classification, destination market, routing, and treatment requirements.
• While Australia and New Zealand both apply seasonal BMSB controls, the requirements are not identical. Customers should review the destination-specific section relevant to their shipment.

Australia
For the 2026/27 BMSB risk season, Australian measures apply to target high-risk and target-risk goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries. Vessels that berth, load, or tranship from target risk countries may also be subject to seasonal measures.

What is changing for Australia this season:

• A new onshore BMSB treatment option, Ethyl Formate, has been added.
• The Rolled Goods Policy has been removed.
• The Safeguarding Scheme has been removed.

New Zealand
New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is continuing to review import requirements for the 2026/27 season. At this stage, measures and requirements from the previous season remain unchanged.

Measures apply to: 

• New and used vehicles, machinery, and parts exported from BMSB risk countries. These goods must comply with MPI's BMSB management requirements before arrival in New Zealand.
• Ocean freight containers exported from Italy must meet BMSB requirements.
• Exemptions may apply for sensitive goods from Italy that could be damaged or made unusable after treatment.
• Manufacturer declarations may be accepted for eligible commodities (excluding cargo from Italy) where requirements have been met.

Target risk countries applicable to Australia and New Zealand unless otherwise stated:

¹Australia only: Requires heightened vessel surveillance
²Australia only: Shipments from emerging-risk countries (United Kingdom, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) may be subject to random onshore inspection. This includes products classified under HS Chapters 39 (plastics and articles thereof), 94 (furniture, lighting and prefabricated buildings) and 95 (toys, games and sporting goods).
³New Zealand excludes Alaska and Hawaii
⁴Australia only: Air freight from these countries may be subject to random inspections
⁵A target-risk country only in Australia

Please refer to DAFF and MPI for specific requirements.

Treatment requirements
Where treatment is required, it must be completed by an approved offshore treatment provider before export. Goods arriving without compliant treatment certification may be subject to regulatory action, including treatment, export, inspection, or other directions from the relevant authority.

Please contact your local Toll Global Forwarding representative for further information or assistance in determining if your shipment is subject to BMSB measures.

Dean Thorpe
EVP ANZ
Toll Global Forwarding

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