How to Care for Your Wood Pallets During Australian Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Season

Australian Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season can cause disruptions for unprepared businesses who transport goods to Australia. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the best practices and necessary steps to protect your wood pallets during the BMSB season while adhering to current regulations.

Getting to Know the BMSB Season

The BMSB season in Australia typically spans from September 1 to April 30. Although this issue is not directly related to the wood pallet material or the ISPM 15 program, it does affect clients who ship to and from Australia due to rule applications. Understanding the requirements set in place is critical to meeting fumigation specifications, avoiding unnecessary costs due to improper treatments, and ensuring smooth shipping operations.

Detection and Prevention of the BMSB

Fumigation Requirements and Treatment Tips

When shipping goods during the BMSB season, it is essential to be mindful of the updated requirements set by the Australian authorities. Adhering to the correct treatment specifications will not only protect your wood pallets from infestation but also prevent delays or costly corrections required by Australian Customs.

By meeting the following standards, you can ensure that your wood pallets are properly packaged to meet the BMSB measures:

• All shipment goods should be packaged and presented in a manner that allows effective BMSB treatment to be conducted.
• All packaged goods should allow for heat and fumigation treatment to penetrate all internal and external surfaces including underneath plastic wrap. This is essential for eliminating the risk of BMSB infestation.
• If your goods are plastic-wrapped, adjust or slash the wrapping to provide adequate access for the fumigant or heat to infiltrate and achieve an effective treatment.
• All treatment providers must be registered with AusTreat. Registration lasts for three years and is administered by DAFF.

Is ISPM 15 Enough?

It is essential to note that the ISPM 15 does not cover the issue of the stink bug. You must meet all BMSB specific requirements.

However, compliance with the ISPM 15 guidelines remains mandatory to maintain global shipping standards.

Preparing Wood Pallets for Export or Interstate Transportation

While the seasonal packaging guidelines are only applied to the goods being imported and not the packaging materials, it’s crucial to remember that all packaging materials, including wood pallets, must meet non-commodity requirements. That means your wood pallets should be compliant with the necessary regulations regardless of the BMSB season.

By abiding by ISPM 15 guidelines and the non-commodity requirements, you can ensure that your wood pallets are ready for export or interstate transportation.

Stay Updated on Regulations and Required Treatments

Finally, always keep yourself informed about the latest regulations and required treatments for shipping your wood pallets and related products. For continuous access to up-to-date information, subscribe to the PalletOne newsletter.

For more details on target goods subject to the measures and target risk countries visit: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs and there’s also a helpful FAQ on BMSB protocol on this site: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs/bmsb-faq.