30 August 2024
Who does this notice affect?
Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including Master Consolidators, vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers and principal agents—associated with shipping or importing goods that require increased intervention during the 2024-25 BMSB risk season.
What has changed?
- The addition of China and Republic of Korea to the heightened vessel surveillance list.
- Offshore treatment providers from BMSB target risk countries that intend to conduct treatments during the BMSB season must register under AusTreat.
- Removal of the Vessel Seasonal Pest Scheme (VSPS).
The department’s BMSB webpage has been updated to reflect the updated measures.
Safeguarding
The Safeguarding Arrangements Scheme (the scheme) is available for the new BMSB Season. The scheme offers an alternative clearance pathway for target high risk goods imported as sea cargo in six hard sided shipping containers during the BMSB risk season.
Key change to this season: Applicants for the 2024 – 2025 BMSB season no longer need to include Australian Border Force (ABF) import data reports to support their application.
Safeguarding Arrangements applications for the 2024-25 season opening soon. Further information can be found on the Safeguarding webpage. For further information email safeguarding@aff.gov.au.
AusTreat
AusTreat is the new pre-border biosecurity treatment provider assurance scheme that was launched on
1 July 2024. AusTreat is a government-to-industry assurance scheme that has replaced the Offshore BMSB Treatment Provider scheme (BMSB scheme) and set the conditions for the regulation of pre-border biosecurity treatment providers.
Summary of key differences between AusTreat and the BMSB Scheme:
- AusTreat is not pest or pathway specific. Instead, treatment providers register to conduct multiple treatment types (heat treatment, methyl bromide fumigation, sulfuryl fluoride fumigation) for multiple pests.
- Treatment provider registration lasts for a 3-year period. Previously registration was renewed on a yearly basis.
- All treatment certificates, record of treatment and other treatment data must be submitted into our treatment certificate portal, increasing assurance and improving clearance times for compliant treatments.
Registration under AusTreat:
Treatment providers that wish to be approved under AusTreat or were registered under the BMSB scheme during the previous BMSB risk season must complete the registration and treatment application form here to commence their registration process for the upcoming BMSB risk season.
All pre-border biosecurity treatment providers registered under AusTreat will be listed on the List of treatment providers.
For further information on pre-border biosecurity treatment providers email offshoretreatments@aff.gov.au.
Further information
Further information regarding BMSB seasonal measures, can be found on the BMSB webpage agriculture.gov.au/bmsb or for policy information email spp@aff.gov.au
If you see something that could have entered Australia with imported goods report it to See. Secure. Report. on 1800 798 636 or complete the online form.