Biosecurity officials are promising to take “tough action” against cargo vessels believed to be infested with brown marmorated stink bugs during the upcoming risk season.
The risk season runs from September to April when stink bugs from the northern hemisphere are most likely to crawl into cargo heading to New Zealand.
Biosecurity New Zealand border clearance services director Steve Gilbert says each arriving vessel will be dealt with on a “case-by-case basis”.
“However, if our officers ultimately determine a ship is infested with stink bug, it will be prevented from discharging its cargo and directed to leave New Zealand.
“We have also introduced a very low threshold for determining contamination. If we find a single bug, we will thoroughly investigate whether the entire vessel is contaminated.
“As with previous stink bug seasons, there will also be increased surveillance and inspection of arriving vessels and cargo from countries with established stink bug populations.
“This is about ensuring the dangerous pest does not get a chance to establish in New Zealand.”
Biosecurity rules have changed for this season, making it compulsory for certain types of cargo to be treated before arrival.
This applies to cargo such as uncontainerised vehicles and machinery which need to be assessed as compliant before discharging from the vessel.
Contaminated vessels will also no longer be directed to undergo insecticide fogging in New Zealand.
Biosecurity New Zealand introduced fogging as an emergency treatment option in February following a spike in stink bug detections in vehicle carriers from Japan.
Last season, biosecurity officers intercepted more than 2500 individual stink bugs at the border, mainly on vessels and cargo.
