[BMSB Update] Exemptions For Sea Freight Imports Effective 1 December 2018

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources recently reported that certain imported goods via sea freight will be exempt from BMSB (Brown Marmorated Stink Bug) seasonal measures effective 1 December 2018.

This applies to goods that are manufactured on/after 1 December 2018 and meet all of the below requirements:

• Goods classified as new machinery, vehicles, vessels and/or new complex parts and equipment. This includes goods classified under the following tariff chapters only: 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89.
• Goods can be verified they have been manufactured on or after 1 December 2018 (evidence can be supported by labelling on the goods)
• Evidence needs to be provided about manufacturing date e.g. in the form of manufacturer’s declaration, commercial invoice
• A declaration is required to prove goods are new, unused and not field tested (NUFT), for more details see this document from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (external link to pdf)

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources also states, that ‘a good is only considered to be manufactured on or after 1 December 2018 if all its large, complex components have also been manufactured after 1 December 2018’. So if parts of e.g. a large machinery were manufactured before 1 December 2018, the exemption does not apply.

For more information please see: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs/prepare-import