BMSB Fact Sheet 2019 - If you are an importer be aware of it

2019-20 Seasonal measures for BMSB

The Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is not found in Australia and needs to be kept out. It could severely impact our agricultural industries. Juveniles and adults feed on, and can severely damage, fruit and vegetable crops, rendering them unsellable or reducing production yields. Adult BMSB can also be a nuisance, entering vehicles, homes and factories for shelter over winter.

In response to the rapid expansion of BMSB throughout Europe and North America, the department has strengthened the seasonal measures to manage risk of BMSB from arriving in Australia for the 2019–20 BMSB risk season. The department has used a range of scientific, intelligence and evidence based information when setting the measures including data collected from the 2018-19 BMSB season onshore verification activities.

The department has also worked closely with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries on the 2019- 20 measures to ensure both Australia and New Zealand’s BMSB seasonal measures are consistent across the two counties where possible.

For the 2019-20 BMSB risk season, measures will apply to:

  • certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries, and/or

  • vessels that berth at, load or tranship from target risk countries

from 1 September 2019 and that arrive in Australian territory by 31 May 2020 (inclusive).

For more information contact your freight forwarder or go to


Latest information is available on the DAWR website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs

Martin Scarpino