BMSB RISK SEASON 2022-23 | WHAT’S NEW?

On Tuesday 23 August last, PQS Group attended an online information session in anticipation of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) risk season 2022-23. It was organized by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Australia and the Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand, the departments that are responsible for keeping BMSB out of their respective countries.

BMSB, what is it again?

BMSB is short for brown marmorated stink bug and is an agricultural, horticultural and social pest. This hitchhiker pest originates from Asia and has spread throughout North America and Europe in recent years. It can be found seeking shelter from cold weather in crevices or protected areas of shipping containers, vehicles, boats, caravans, machinery and personal stored items.

The risk of it arriving on cargo and containers in Australia and New Zealand is particularly high between September and April, coinciding with late autumn and winter in the northern hemisphere. The responsible government bodies of Australia and New Zealand require BMSB treatment of certain goods in order to minimize the risk of it becoming a major biosecurity concern.

BSMB treatment

BMSB treatment needs to be conducted on target high risk goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries, exported from 1st September 2022 up to arrival in Australia and New Zealand on or before 30ieth April 2023, and to vessels that berth, load, or tranship from target risk countries within the same period. Approved treatment options include heat treatment and fumigation.

BMSB treatment providers

The information session was attended by treatment providers, both new and renewing, approved to conduct treatments against BMSB under the Offshore BMSB Treatment Providers Scheme. The respective departments informed attendees about the updated measures for the upcoming season and emphasized the key role the industry plays in helping to keep Australia and New Zealand free from BMSB. The measures taken in the past years have proven to be successful.

Updated seasonal measures

Now, in order to maintain successful results, Australia and New Zealand continuously review the measures throughout the season and may make necessary adjustments based on detections of BMSB and changes in the risk pathways. Currently, new seasonal measures for BMSB risk season 2022-23 include the following.

  • Emerging risk countries – China and UK only
  • Chapters 39, 94 and 95 will be subject to random inspections for emerging risk countries

A full update can be found under this leading link.

Teamwork

The session was concluded with a big thank you to the industry. It requires teamwork to keep the BMSB out of Australia and New Zealand. And that’s exactly what we offer you: teamwork! PQS Group is an approved BMSB treatment provider for both heat treatment and fumigation with a vast experience in the two fields. We would gladly team up with you to make sure your questions about shipment to Australia and New Zealand during BMSB risk season are answered and that you are provided with the right treatment and certificates complying with the requirements as set out in the scheme, allowing for carefree shipment.

Proud despite hard times!

Only 6 weeks ago – which feels like an eternity – it became clear what was in store for us regarding measures in case of Coronavirus.  The first notifications came from our Italian colleagues about quarantines, possible lockdown, hundreds of infected, and the first people who died from this virus. Then it escalated quickly. We also had to prepare ourselves, which risks and impact this pandemic would have for our companies in the other European countries, where we operate. We involved our customers to know their vision for the coming months. Also new forecasts have been made and we did some research into reducing work time. Various scenarios passed. Precautions have been taken; cars from the operational staff have all been supplied with soap and water, extra cleaning has been scheduled, all the office personnel were asked to work from home. We try to follow one clear policy as hard as we can. Of course, with specific exceptions in each Country.

 

 

The fact is that this situation is showing how strong our organisation is: there is more cooperation than ever on all fronts, we have daily team meetings, where we keep each other informed about developments by video conference.  HR, QHSE, Sales and Operations have never worked that close and intensively before. Everyone has a lot of creativity and is motivated to answer to all our customers issues. The most important thing is we remain self-motivated.

This situation reminds me of a Dutch quote: “alone you go faster, together you come further.” This sentence certainly applies to us. We really do this together!

We have divisions that are struggling, so we are blessed that we also work in branches that continue to run their business. Logistic never stands still, pests cannot be held back by coronavirus and the demand for our services has never been higher in the food industry. New services, such as disinfection, have been developed and time has been dedicated to knowledge transfer. Multidisciplinary training of our colleagues has always been a high priority on our agenda, but due to constant growth and tight labour markets, this has been difficult to achieve. Nowadays, colleagues between the different divisions are exchanged more than ever before.

It’s often said in the news: there is a world before coronavirus and a world after it, and it will never be like before. I must tell you honestly that I hope so, because this extraordinary situation brought significant changes. I am proud, extremely proud of our colleagues, our partners (customers and suppliers). We all stand together, with patience and understanding. This is inspiring and give us the drive to go for it every day.

Take care, enjoy the little things and try to stay healthy!

Joren Nieuwenhuizen

CEO

Article as PDF: Proud despite hard times!

EWS Group Italy and Spediporto / Spediservices join forces in PQS Group

PQS Group is a cooperation between EWS Group Italy and Spediservices, offering quarantine services in multiple port areas in Italy. Gas measurement, fumigation, BMSB-treatments and many more belong to the broad spectrum of services PQS Group provides.

To celebrate the launch, PQS Group is starting with a special promotion in the port of Genua! Do you have containers arriving in this port? Then you’re in luck. From the 6th to the 10th of may PQS Group is doing free gas measurement demonstrations! Interested? Contact Marta Mottin on +39 348 26 84 121 or send an e-mail to info@pqs-group.it.