Brown Marmorated Stinkbug – ITALY – update

by on 02 March 2018

Please see below the latest information received from Ministry of Primary Industries  – an extension to the mandatory treatment for all goods coming from Italy, 

 

 

New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is extending the mandatory (offshore or onshore) treatment for all goods associated with sea containers from Italy from the 1st of March 2018 until the 30th of April 2018.  

MPI is taking this highly precautionary approach as Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) are still being detected in goods imported into New Zealand in Italian sea containers.  This situation is problematic as BMSB is difficult to detect in low numbers, and mandatory treatment is seen as being the most effective way to stop this significant pest species entering and establishing in New Zealand.  MPI has made this decision today after evaluating the available data leading up to and including the end of February to ensure all aspects were considered, the change also aligns with the recognised aggregation risk period currently in place for vehicles and machinery from the Italy and the USA. 

The urgent measures were originally introduced on the 23rd of December 2017, and it was intended to enforce the requirements until the 28th of February 2018 to manage the significant risk of BMSB associated with goods in sea containers from Italy. 

MPI encourages all importers to treat containerised consignments before shipping their goods to ensure the BMSB risk is managed offshore. If an importer wishes to treat containerised consignments on arrival, they may face significant delays due to the volume of containers entering New Zealand. If an importer must treat on arrival, they need to be aware that it must be arranged with a New Zealand treatment provider to have treatment conducted within 72 hours of arrival in New Zealand.

MPI is working closely with our overseas counterparts to ensure that these requirements do not adversely affect New Zealand’s trade partners and the arrival of consignments from Italy up to the 30th of April 2018.

Anyone that has concerns over the types of treatments applied, and whether these will harm their goods can contact MPI to see if alternative options can be arranged.

Finds of this insect have now reached over 1730 this season from 238 interception events and whilst we recognise that some delays do occur as a consequence of these protection measures, your support in maintaining this biosecurity success is greatly appreciated.

MPI contact details

  • For overseas or pre-arrival enquiries, email standards@mpi.govt.nz
  • For New Zealand enquiries:
    • email targetevaluator.cargo@mpi.govt.nz, or
    • phone 0800 22 20 18 option 2 then option 1. Phone calls are answered from Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm, excluding public holidays.
  • For other enquiries, including regional offices, call the general enquires line – 0800 00 83 33

 

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