13 June 2024
Who does this notice affect?
Pre-border biosecurity treatment providers and clients in the import and shipping industries—including freight forwarders, importers, and customs brokers associated with importing goods that require Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) treatment during the BMSB risk season (goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries, that have been shipped between 1 September and 30 April (inclusive) as sea cargo).
What has changed?
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) will be hosting virtual information sessions on AusTreat, a new pre-border treatment provider assurance scheme.
AusTreat is a government-to-industry scheme that will replace the existing Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers scheme, starting from the 2024-2025 BMSB risk season. Treatment providers wanting to participate this season will need to register to AusTreat and be listed as approved on the list of treatment providers on the department’s website prior to 1 September 2024.
Please refer to the following Import Industry Advice Notice (IIAN) dated 16 May 2024 for more information.
The department will host two one-hour virtual information sessions to outline and explain the new scheme in the week starting 24 June 2024.
These sessions will cover:
- a general overview of AusTreat and its purpose
- how it differs from the Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme
- how to register for AusTreat ahead of the 2024-2025 BMSB risk season and new registration requirements under the scheme
- requirements for submitting treatment certificates and related information under AusTreat
- compliance enforcement measures under AusTreat.
Click one of the links below to register for a session:
- 5pm AEST (9am CEST / 3pm SGT/CST/PHT) on Monday 24 June 2024
- 7am AEST (2pm PDT / 5pm EDT) on Wednesday 26 June 2024.
Please note that while the presented information will be most relevant for treatment providers, attendance at either session is open to all.
Please also note that all sessions will be presented in English.
These sessions will not cover seasonal measures for the upcoming 2024-25 BMSB risk season. BMSB seasonal measures will be covered in separate sessions prior to the 2024-25 risk season; more detail will be provided in a future IIAN.