Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) Safeguarding Arrangements Scheme

Applications are open from 31 July to 30 January and submissions must be complete before assessment can begin. Applying for the scheme does not automatically result in approval being granted.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate the following as part of their application. Please consider whether you and your supply chain can meet each of these requirements prior to applying for the scheme.

• Goods must be imported into Australia by a single importing entity that has a valid Australian Company Number (ACN) and/or Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Goods must be transported in a hard six -sided shipping container.
• Goods must be stored indoors between manufacture and export to Australia.
• Mitigation processes are in place (and can be demonstrated) throughout the supply chain to protect the goods from exposure to BMSB, exotic pests and other biosecurity risks.
• Contingency processes are in place (and can be demonstrated) in case BMSB is detected at any point in the supply chain.
• Container unpack location in Australia must be in a metropolitan location according to the department’s Postcode delivery classifications webpage.
• If approved, all supply chain staff must complete the department’s online Hitchhiker awareness training and understand their obligations under the safeguarding agreement. The training package will be provided on approval of your application.
• Provide at least one supply chain compliance audit which meets your department approved supply chain plan for each manufacturing and indoor storage site within 60 days of receiving formal approval for the current season.

Possible mitigation processes and actions may include:

• Secure packaging immediately after manufacture.
• Goods stored at constant temperatures below 5°C (41°F) after manufacture until arrival in Australia.
• Detailed inspection procedures during storage and when loading to ensure goods are free of BMSB and other pests.
• Pest treatments – including insecticidal fogging and residual insecticide treatments.
• Pest inspections by accredited providers.

Applications for the scheme are not available to:

• Onshore supply chains or sites located in Australia.
• Goods transported as breakbulk (BB) including flat rack and open top containers.
• Goods transported in Less than Container Load (LCL) and Freight of All Kinds (FAK) containers.
• Goods that have ‘many-to-many’ supply chains, such as those encompassing goods obtained from multiple suppliers to multiple importers.
• Distribution centres.
• Goods destined for rural unpack locations in Australia.
• Good that are being shipped from BMSB non target risk countries.

Importers must:

• Ensure all processes and actions outlined in the Safeguarding agreement are followed to ensure goods are exported to Australia BMSB free.
• Ensure all shipping containers are clean and BMSB free prior to loading goods.
• Manage the unpack of goods imported into Australia in a metro area.
• Conduct at least one independent audit which meets the approved supply chain plan for each manufacturing and indoor storage site, within 60 days of receiving formal approval for the current season and provide details of the audit to the department for review.
• Contact the Safeguarding team immediately if pest detections are made at any point in the supply chain.

If you SEE any biosecurity concerns, SECURE the goods and immediately and REPORT to Biosecurity Reports on 1800 798 636.

SEE. SECURE. REPORT

Applications for the department's Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme are open for submission annually between 31 July and 30 January via the ‘Application for BMSB Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme’ form.

The following information must be supplied when submitting the application:

• Completed application form
• Supply Chain Mitigation and Contingency Actions and Processes Plan.
• A minimum of 6 images per site. Images must include the inside and outside of each site listed (manufacture/storage/unpacking).

Please refer to the Safeguarding Arrangement: Supply Chain Action and Processes Guide to assist in the submission of your application.

A supply chain compliance audit outlines all processes that an organisation follows to lower the risk of BMSB, and other exotic pests and diseases of biosecurity concern.

Each site included in the approved supply chain plan must undergo an audit and reports must demonstrate the supply chain is compliant with the requirements of the Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme.

Approved participants of the scheme are required to conduct at least one supply chain compliance audit which meets the approved supply chain plan for each manufacturing and indoor storage site, within 60 days of the approval date and provide to the department for review.

The use of an independent, unbiased auditor is preferred. Where this is not possible, the audit may be carried out by a senior employee such as a Quality Assurance Manager.

Prior to commencing the audit, auditors should be provided with the approved supply chain plan and your application form to inform them of the requirements of the scheme.

The following information should be included in the audit (note this list is not exclusive):

• The auditors name and credentials/company position.
• A brief description of the report’s intention.
• An overview of the current practice/s of the site.
• Is the premises operating as described in the application form?
• A list of the site documents reviewed.
• Verification that the premise is kept clean, dry, and free from pests and contamination.
• Verification the exterior area of the premise is properly maintained to discourage pests such as BMSB.
• Verification that each step or procedure in the supply chain is followed and adhered to.
• Outline any measures undertaken to close any supply chain gaps or rectify non-compliance.
• Do reporting procedures exist for biosecurity risks, including BMSB? What are they?
• Specify if the mitigation and contingency procedures are sufficient to ensure goods arrive in Australia BMSB free.
• Summary of the audits finding.
• Reports must be signed by the auditor, on auditors’ letterhead or company letterhead.
• Any supporting documents supplied must be current.
• Evidence that the Hitchhiker Awareness Training package has been completed by staff working in areas of the supply chain.

Images/photos can also be supplied to support the information on the Audit report(s).

Failure to provide an audit report to the department may result in suspension of that entity from the scheme until an audit report is provided which shows compliance. Audit reports showing non-compliance will be assessed on a case by case basis. Non compliance with audit requirements may affect future applications.

The department's Compliance Policy framework is available to assist.

The scheme is an option available to importers looking for an alternative pathway to compulsory treatment when importing goods that fall under BMSB high risk tariffs.

Approved applicants have proven their supply chain is low risk due to the mitigation processes they have implemented. They may import goods that are sensitive to the regular treatments for BMSB such as Methyl Bromide fumigation or heat treatment.

The benefits to applicants could include:

• Potential for lowering of costs associated with importing high risk tariff goods, due to the removal of compulsory fumigation throughout the season.
• Less time at the port due to automatic processing of entries.

Applications are submitted online via the ‘Application for BMSB Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme’ form.

• Step 1 Applicant submits a completed application form and supporting documentation.
• Step 2 The application and supporting documentation is assessed by the Safeguarding team, additional information is requested from the applicant if required.
• Step 3 Applicant must provide the additional requested information for further assessment.
• Step 4 Decision is made on the applicant’s suitability for the scheme and advised accordingly.
• Step 5 The applicant receives formal notification of the application assessment decision.

The online application form has a 50 MB limit and accepts a maximum 32 files. Accepted filetypes include: gif, jpg, png, bmp, pict, txt, rtf, html, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, zip.

Application assessments can be complex and processing times may vary. All efforts are made to complete assessments as soon as possible. Approvals will only be granted to once all requested information has been provided by the applicant and assessed as satisfactory.

Approved applications will cover consignments that are exported on or after the approval date and cannot be backdated to the application submission date or start of the BMSB season. Those consignments exported prior to approval will be subject to the BMSB seasonal measures.

The Mitigation and Contingency plan is an essential assessment requirement for the application process. An effective plan addresses the biosecurity measures and controls in each stage of the supply chain (production, storage, and shipping etc.) Contingency processes define the steps to be followed in the event of a contamination incident and will be different to the mitigation processes which are used to prevent risks from occurring in the first place.

We assess the steps and considerations relevant to the applicant’s business requirements, on how an occurrence of BMSB would be treated if discovered at any point in the supply chain.

The department offers a guide to assist with meeting this requirement, which is located in the downloads section of the departments website.

Yes. The scheme currently requires the unpack location nominated in your supply chain to be located at a recognised metropolitan location. This can be checked at Postcode delivery classifications.

Overseas suppliers with outdoor storage sites will not be accepted into the scheme due to the biosecurity risk posed by BMSB and other hitchhiking pests.

BMSB often shelter in man-made structures including warehouses during their overwintering period. All goods where large infestations of BMSB have been found share the common features of having internal gaps or spaces, and having been stored outdoors or under limited shelter.

For these reasons, the department deems the risk of outdoor storage as too high to be considered for the scheme.

Consignments approved and compliant under the department’s Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme will be subject to random verification to ensure compliance with the scheme requirements. Consignments will be randomly selected upon lodgement of the Formal Import Declaration in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS). Automatic directions will be issued to the lodging customs broker via the departments Agriculture Management Systems (AIMS) indicating if documentation and or inspection is required.

Verification measures include documentation assessment and verification inspection. Consignments that are not subject to random verification will be automatically released from biosecurity control.

Applicants are required to submit their approval letter for document assessment with each eligible import into Australia upon request.

Failure to provide an audit report to the department may result in suspension of that entity from the scheme until an audit report is provided which shows compliance. Audit reports showing non-compliance will be assessed on a case by case basis. Non compliance with audit requirements may affect future applications.