Weekly Update 14 December 2020

Welcome to our new weekly update report for the BMSB season. We want to keep you informed of our work and answer your questions. We'll include lodgement queue processing times and volumes.

This week

Sea freight queue

For this week, sea freight lodgement turnaround is estimated at 1- 6 days.

On Monday 14 December, morning, the total sea freight queue (includes Australian lodgements) stood at 1,138 lodgements and TET are processing lodgements slightly ahead of operational performance targets.

Last week:  average turnaround of sea freight lodgement for first submissions was 23:58 hrs (previous week 20:23 hrs) and for second submissions 7:33 hrs (previous week 4:06 hrs).

Airfreight queue

For the coming week, air freight lodgement turnaround is estimated 3- 8 hours

On Monday 14 December, morning, there were 406 airfreight lodgements, the team is processing ahead of operational performance targets. 

 Last week:  average turnaround of air freight lodgement for first submissions was 7:05 hrs (previous week 3:26 hrs) and for second submissions 7:15 hrs (previous week 2:45 hrs).

Australia queue

On Monday 14 December, morning, there were 250 Australian specific lodgements, the team is processing ahead of operational performance targets. 

 Last week:

 Average turnaround of air freight lodgement for first submissions was 6:41 hrs (previous week 3:26 hrs) and for second submissions (previous week 3:16 hrs).

Average turnaround of sea freight lodgement for first submissions was 21:39 hrs (previous week 19:46 hrs) and for second submissions 6:25 hrs (previous week 3:44 hrs).

Pressure point:

• None noted

Lodgements processed Weekly 7 Dec – 13 December   

All timings are based on business hours from 7am to 5pm.

Total lodgements processed 5,982 (previous week 5,851)

Australian queue

Enquiries to Customer Enquiries Centre and Standards Team

Enquiries to Standards:

Your questions answered

Topic – “Post Treatment Window” Australian versus NZ requirements

Question

We have above to ship ex USA have advised origin that since flat rack will need treatment then loaded within 120hrs since it is a non-sealed container

I’m looking at your standard for this info.  Client has advised origin of such who have come back saying Australia no longer requires this 120hr stipulation and is NZ the same can you advise please

Response

For NZ bound cargo the post treatment period of 120 hrs is still applicable. For Australian bound consignments please refer to the FAQ’s “Check if a post treatment window applies to your goods”.

For Australian bound cargo the post treatment window only applies to goods treated before 1 December 2020. Goods treated from 1 December 2020 (inclusive) have been recognised as having lower risk of re-infestation and are not subject to the post treatment window of 120 hours.

Preparing to import goods during the 2020-21 BMSB season - Department of Agriculture

Topic 2: – “Post Treatment Window” New Zealand break bulk, open top, flat racks (VMP) requirements 

Question

We have seen delays ex USA ports which have required us to pull Break Bulk/Flat Rack/Open Top cargo off-loading considerations due to the refumigation time frame required. This causes a problem with the time frame the shippers have from fumigations to loading the vessel.

From our understanding you are working with your Australian counter parts in some respects to keep the two BMSB programs consistent as much as it can be.  Your Counterparts have released a date of Dec. 1st, 2020, how does this impact MPI New Zealand?

With that, the question is, will your requirements also have a time period where the Break Bulk/Flat rack/Open Top shipments are not required to refumigate if it goes past 120 hours?

Response

The DAWE in Australia has differing rules for their BMSB policy regarding post treatment storage after 1 December. MPI applies the 120-hour rule for treated VMP and Italian goods exported in sea Containers, across the whole BMSB season.  Although DAWE and MPI aim to align on BMSB policy as much as possible this remains a point of difference between MPI and DAWE policy.  At this time MPI will not be changing the 120-hour requirements as the risk of BMSB aggregation remains high.

MPI may permit an extra 72 hours if there is a legitimate reason for the cargo to exceed the 120 hours and the importer/exporter informs MPI before export.  In this situation the on-arrival re-treatment will be done.

We appreciate and understand that Covid 19 is placing pressure on supply chains and shipping schedules are somewhat less reliable currently. If cargo does exceed the 120 hours, we encourage importers to contact Standards. This will allow MPI to consider equivalent post treatment management options for the consignment using a CTO direction.  It will also inform MPI that there is an increasing issue around goods not being able to meet the 120-hour period and MPI can then consider if something needs to be done on a larger scale.

Topic 2: – Alignment of BMSB management between New Zealand and Australia

MPI (the Ministry for Primary Industries) in New Zealand and DAWE (the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) in Australia have aligned the measures for BMSB management as much as possible. The main areas of alignment are risk countries, treatments, and the approved treatment providers who can carry out BMSB treatment before targeted goods arrive in New Zealand or Australia.

Importers, exporters, and agents involved with importing goods into New Zealand and Australia must understand the requirements for each country to ensure compliance. There are some differences you should be aware of, especially around the targeting of commodity types.

Differences between New Zealand and Australian BMSB management measures

Brown marmorated stink bug: requirements for importers | MPI | NZ Government

Find previous updates on our website.