Managing the risk of BMSB, Halyomorpha halys in Australia 1 April 2020 Koichi Miyahiro Manager of Public Relations Division To prevent recent similar Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) incidents from Japan and other Asian countries, vessels calling at ports in Australia should comply with all required vessel surveillance and inspections. We advise BMSB’s character and the management of BMSB for the next 2020/2021 seasonal measures. 1. Why need the managing the risk of BMSB in Australia? BMSB is not found in Australia, however pose a high biosecurity risk due to their tendency to hitchhike in sea cargo and their highly mobile nature. It is not a human health risk but poses a risk to agricultural crops, and is a nuisance pest, seeking shelter in homes and vehicles in large numbers. BMSB are highly mobile and during the colder months in the northern hemisphere (between September and April), it is common for BMSB to take shelter in cargo, as well as vehicles and machinery, that are bound for Australia. Australia is a large country as the sixth largest country in land area. The northern section has tropical influenced climate and the southern parts are cooler with mild summers and cool sometimes rainy winters. Australia’s environment supports the entry and potential pathway for BMSB to establish. For that reason, Australia conduct strict inspection of BMSB. 2. 2019/2020 BMSB seasonal measures Seasonal measures are implemented to manage the risk of BMSB arriving in vessels and goods. The measures apply to goods shipped between September and April of each year, coinciding with the northern hemisphere’s winter. This is when adult BMSB overwinters and shelters in a range of goods including machinery, vehicles, and other types of goods that are accessible to the adult BMSB. Who do seasonal measures apply to? In 2019/2020, seasonal measures apply to all RORO vessels that berth at, load or tranship in the following 33 target risk countries from 1 September 2019 and that arrive i