KVH is pleased with new rules provisionally released by Biosecurity New Zealand to keep Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB) out of New Zealand.

The new regulations will apply to this year’s stink bug season, which starts 1 September 2019 and runs through to 30 April 2020.

Following consultation with industry, the list of countries that have requirements to treat imported vehicles, machinery, and parts before they arrive in New Zealand will rise from 17 to 33. These countries have all been identified as having stink bug populations.

The other big change is that imported cargo relating to vehicles will need to be treated offshore, including sea containers. Only non-containerised vehicle cargo has required offshore treatment in the past.

Offshore treatment requirements will also apply to all sea containers from Italy.

The new rules reduce the biosecurity risk to New Zealand and the kiwifruit industry, by ensuring potentially contaminated cargo arrives as clean as possible. Biosecurity New Zealand is also planning to have officers based in Europe this season to educate manufacturers, treatment providers, and exporters about the new requirements and to audit facilities.

The release of the new import health standard is provisional for 10 days so that interested parties that provided a submission can contest the new rules before they are finalised.