Home
/
About Us
/
BMSB 2024-2025

BMSB Season 2025-2026 – starting September 1st

Stay on top of the latest BMSB developments

If you are importing vehicles, machinery and parts from BMSB risk countries, or sea containers from Italy into New Zealand, chances are high your cargo is classified as target high risk or target risk goods and subject to BMSB measures. As an importer or manufacturer whose business depends on a reliable supply chain, you cannot afford the risk of your much needed cargo being delayed or even rejected and exported.

We are in permanent contact with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and can ensure that your cargo will comply with MPI’s latest rules and regulations. We assist with the classification of goods, arrange for the required treatment by approved treatment providers, and take care of the required paperwork and documentation.

As a result, you can fully focus on your business and your customers, rather than spending your time trying to stay on top of the latest BMSB developments and regulations.

Don’t let a small bug stop your business.

New Zealand

BMSB 2025-2026 Fact Sheet

Download PDF

BMSB Measures

Target high risk goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries as sea cargo will require treatment for BMSB either prior to export or on arrival in New Zealand.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

(Halyomorpha Halys)

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB) pose a significant biosecurity risk due to their highly mobile nature. They are currently found throughout Northeast Asia, North America and Europe and can be identified by their shield shape and white bands on the antennae, legs and rear margins of the body. Introduction into New Zealand would have a devastating impact on over 300 agricultural and ornamental plants by rendering them unsellable or reducing production yields.

As a result, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) implements seasonal measures for certain goods arriving from target risk countries.

For the 2025-26 BMSB risk season, BMSB seasonal measures will apply to Target high risk goods manufactured in or and shipped from target risk countries, on or after 1 September 2025 and arrives on or prior to 30 April 2026 (inclusive).

Seasonal measures also apply to vessels that berth, load or tranship from target risk countries within the same period. Throughout the season MPI continually reviews measures based on detections of BMSB and the risk pathways.

Full details of the NZ Import Health Standard can be found here:

Which goods are targeted?

Vehicles, machinery and parts (VMP) manufactured in, or shipped from BMSB risk countries and all containers from Italy will require treatment for BMSB prior to arrival in New Zealand.

Break Bulk Goods

Break bulk includes those goods shipped on flat racks and in open top containers.
All target high risk goods shipped as break bulk must be treated offshore prior to arrival into New Zealand.
Untreated break bulk will be directed for export.
Onshore treatment is not permitted.
FCL containers that have been modified, such as those used to house in-built power generators, filtration plants, portable accommodation etc. are no longer sealed six hard sided containers and are considered to be break bulk cargo.

Containerised (FCL/FCX)

cargo arriving in sealed six hard sided containers may be treated offshore or onshore at the container level.

LCL and FAK containers with target high risk goods will be managed at the container level for BMSB.

Offshore treatment of LCL consignments and FAK containers is preferred.
Onshore treatment of LCL consignments and FAK containers will be permitted at the container level only.

Certain target risk goods do not require mandatory treatment however are subject to increased surveillance and inspections and may be directed for treatment if BMSB are detected.

All imported cargo must still comply with listed standard import conditions which are dealt with against the import declaration.

Sea container from Italy

All sea containers from Italy must be treated offshore before arrival in New Zealand for brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). The only exceptions are sensitive cargo; see the list below.

Sensitive Goods

Under section 3.1.5, an MPI inspector may inspect sea containers and cargo instead of (fumigation or heat) treatment where:

a) the importer has notified MPI that the sea container contains cargo that is sensitive and would be damaged by the treatments for brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) specified in Approved Biosecurity Treatments; and

b) an MPI chief technical officer has determined that treatment may damage the cargo.

Risk goods that are sensitive to treatment are:

agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines;
food for human consumption (including beverages);
food-grade packaging materials (such as thermal plastic film);
fresh produce;
frozen food products;
live animals;
leather goods (apparel and furniture)
pet food;
pharmaceutical products;
polyurethane bales and foam products;
refrigerated goods;
seed for sowing;
special category risk goods (chemical, explosive, mineral, radioactive or volatile);
tanktainers; and
textiles (including yarn).

An importer’s application for biosecurity clearance must notify MPI in writing that the cargo is sensitive to treatment, otherwise biosecurity clearance could be delayed, the sea container may have to be reshipped or the cargo may have to be destroyed.

New, unused and not field tested (NUFT) goods

New/Unused goods that have been stored exclusively indoors prior to export can be exempt from treatment requirements where a valid Manufacturer’s Declaration is provided (Excluding Italy). The template for this declaration is available below.

Manufacturer’s Declaration template for applicable vehicles, machinery and parts.

Treatment Options

There are three approved treatment options for BMSB treatments.

Heat

For all goods types and sizes

56°C or higher at the coldest surface of the goods, for a minimum of 30 minutes, or
Alternative option for individual goods weighing less than 3000 kg shipped as break bulk only, 60°C or higher at the coldest surface of the goods, for a minimum of 10 minutes

Note: Individual goods shipped as break bulk weighing less than 3000kg treated at 60°C for 10 minutes require evidence within shipping documentation that they are less than 3000kg for these treatments to be accepted.

Methyl Bromide

A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for a minimum of 12 hours (but less than 24 hours), with a minimum end point reading of 12 g/m³, or
A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for 24 hours or longer, with a minimum end point reading of 8 g/m³

Note:

All start time concentration readings must be above 24 g/m³
Dose increases to compensate for temperatures less than 10°C is NOT permitted
Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted
If the concentration of the fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed

Sulfuryl Fluoride

A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for a minimum of 12 hours (but less than 24 hours), with a minimum end point reading of 12 g/m³, or
A dose of 24 g/m³ or above, at 10°C or above, for 24 hours or longer, with a minimum end point reading of 8 g/m³

Note:

All start time concentration readings must be above 24 g/m³
Dose increases to compensate for temperatures less than 10°C is NOT permitted
Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted
If the concentration of the fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed

Sulfuryl Fluoride – Using third-party system*

Achieve a CT of 200 g-h/m³ or more, at 10°c or above, for 12 hours or longer, with a minimum end point reading of 12 g/m³, or
Achieve a CT of 200 g-h/m³ or more, at 10°C or above, for 24 hours or longer, with a minimum end point reading of 8 g/m³

*Note: The approved stewardship program operators and their third-party systems are:

Douglas Products or their agents – FumiGuide
Ensystex II, Inc. (USA – Fumicalc)
Barcan Barcan Pest Control & Fumigation Co. (Barcan ilaclama Fumigasyon Tic. Ltd. Sti.) (Turkey) – FumiTrack

Topping up with additional fumigant at the end of treatment is NOT permitted. If the concentration of the fumigant falls below the minimum end point reading at any point during the treatment, the treatment has failed.

Offshore Treatment Providers Scheme

A list of approved treatment providers is available here.

Please note that this list no longer specifies which providers are approved under the BMSB treatment providers scheme. Businesses seeking treatment of goods for BMSB should use this list of providers to identify those where the treatment is to be performed, and contact them independently to ensure they are approved under the BMSB treatment providers scheme.

Treatment Window

Containerised goods – Goods must be loaded into a six hard sided container and sealed within 120 hours. A sealing declaration can be provided if required.

Break bulk (including flat racks and open top containers) – must be loaded onto a vessel for export from the target risk country within the defined timeframe of 120 hours.

Note: The post treatment window does NOT apply to goods treated in a non-target risk country.

Vessels

All roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) vessels that berth at, load or tranship in target risk countries from 1^st September 2025 and arrive in New Zealand territory by 30^th April 2026 will be required to:

Conduct self-inspections and respond to specific questions as part of pre-arrival reporting requirements; and
Undergo a mandatory seasonal pest inspection on arrival in New Zealand.

Target Risk Countries*

Below is the 2025-26 table of target risk countries.


Albania	Germany	Portugal
Andorra	Greece	Republic of North Macedonia
Armenia	Hungary	Romania
Austria	Italy	Russia
Azerbaijan	Japan	Serbia
Belgium	Kazakhstan	Slovakia
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Kosovo	Slovenia
Bulgaria	Liechtenstein	Spain
Canada	Luxemburg	Switzerland
Croatia	Montenegro	Türkiye
Czechia	Moldova	Ukraine
France	Netherlands	United States of America (excludes Alaska, Hawaii)
Georgia	Poland	Uzbekistan (may be added Nov 25)