Australia/New Zealand: BMSB season without nasty surprises
Early preparation avoids additional costs and delays with imports.
Again this season, shipments to Australia and New Zealand must be prepared very carefully. In both countries, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Season begins on September 1, 2021, and ends on April 30, 2022. Strict import regulations are in place to avoid this pest entering Australia and New Zealand. Imports from much of Europe, the USA and Canada, are affected. "Poland has been added this year" informs Chris Sutcliffe, National Customs Manager based at a. hartrodt in Brisbane. Australia now lists 37 target risk countries, and New Zealand lists 38. Sutcliffe recommends that customers "prepare for the BMSB season as early as possible".
Extensive import documents required
The manager points out how important it is to have all documents ready for import via an Australian port. In addition to a cleanliness declaration and a certificate that the goods and/or packaging have been treated with gas or heat if applicable, the origin of the goods must also be proven, among other things. Details can be found on the websites of the responsible ministries in Australia and New Zealand.
Prepare shrink-wrapping for import control
The most common mistake observed by Sutcliffe, who has been in the freight forwarding business for 42 years, is improper packaging: "If pallets and skids are plastic wrapped before being put into the shipping container, make sure that fumigation or heat treatment of the goods is possible." Problems arise, he says, if the container is packed too tightly and/or plastic wrapping is used. Expert tip for import control in Australia: Leave enough space, slash or perforate the plastic. Otherwise, the goods may need to be unpacked in a special class of warehouse. According to Sutcliffe, this can cost "many thousands of dollars" and can cause delays of many weeks.
With its regional headquarters for Australia and New Zealand in Milperra near Sydney, a. hartrodt employs 160 people nationally and has additional Australian offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.