What is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, and why does it matter in commercial shipping to New Zealand and Australia?
The Brown Marmorated Stinkbug—BMSB or stink bug—is a known pest in international shipping, particularly when shipping to Australia and New Zealand. The BMSB can find its way inadvertently onto export shipments bound for Oceania, usually inside corrugated cartons or wood packaging, ocean containers, and breakbulk cargo. The bug feeds on many different plants and can severely damage fruits, vegetables and crops. If allowed to enter the country, it has the potential to wreak havoc on a country's agricultural industry. The pest is so potentially damaging that both The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) and The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have a rigorous set of rules to prevent the introduction and spread of the threat. Australia and New Zealand's seasonal measures for the 2021-2022 allow non-compliant cargo to be quarantined, fumigated near the port, refused entry, or possibly destroyed at cargo owners’ expense. Fumigation seas...