23/01/2023
Who does this notice affect?
Clients in the import and shipping industries—including freight forwarders, importers and customs brokers—associated with importing goods that require BMSB treatment during the BMSB risk season (goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries, that have been shipped between 1 September 2022 and 30 April 2023 (inclusive)).
What has changed?
Following the identification of critical non-compliance, the department and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries has suspended Agronet (FR4002SB) from the Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme.
The company will be listed as ‘suspended’ on the Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme’s List of BMSB Treatment Providers. The company may no longer perform treatments on Australian and New Zealand bound consignments. Any consignments treated by Agronet (FR4002SB) will be re-treated or exported on arrival in Australia. This decision is effective immediately and no allowance is made for goods in transit.
The date of the suspension is published on the summary of recent changes to the list of offshore BMSB treatment providers webpage. As per the department’s in-transit policy, all treatment certification issued by the treatment provider will be considered unacceptable from the date of the suspension, regardless of the treatment/issue date on the treatment certificate. This includes certification issued both before and after the change in their status.
Further detail on how different consignment types treated by a suspended treatment provider will be managed on arrival in Australia is provided on the Preparing to import goods during the 2022-23 BMSB season webpage.
Goods shipped as break bulk, including open top or flat rack containers prior/after the suspension
Break bulk goods that were shipped on board on or prior to the relevant treatment provider being suspended (goods in-transit to Australia at the time of suspension) or shipped on board a vessel within 120 hours after the suspension, will be permitted to discharge/unload on arrival only if there is an approved risk management plan in place.
A risk management plan must be submitted to the department via email to Hitchhiker Pests Policy (spp@aff.gov.au), prior to the goods arriving in Australia. Failure to do so will result in the goods being denied discharge and being directed for export. The risk management plan is intended to demonstrate to the department that the risk is being sufficiently managed in order to allow the transport of the affected cargo from the vessel to a department approved onshore treatment provider for treatment in accordance with the BMSB seasonal measures.
The BMSB risk management plan must include:
- A documented procedure that outlines how a specific biosecurity risk (such as BMSB) will be managed to an acceptably low level on a consignment of cargo. In this situation, the cargo has been treated by an approved offshore BMSB treatment provider, which was subsequently suspended following the treatment being performed on the consignment of goods.
- Confirmation in writing (letter/email from the wharf or treatment provider) that the potential BMSB risk will be tarped and secured within 24 hours of discharge. For example, envelope tarping or similar sealing containment methods to contain the risk and be effective even in adverse weather; AND
- Confirmation in writing (letter/email from the treatment provider) that the goods can be treated within 48 hours of discharge by a department approved onshore treatment provider either at the wharf or, at an AA site within the port precinct.
Further information
For further information regarding the Offshore BMSB Treatment Provider Scheme suspensions and the in-transit policy, visit List of offshore BMSB treatment providers or contact BMSBtreatments@awe.gov.au.