Shippers and importers are floating the idea of an industry initiative to have Oceania-bound vessels heat treated for stink bugs all year round.
It comes as the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking feedback on plans to introduce stricter import requirements for vehicles and sea containers.
The proposed changes include extending the list of countries that have requirements to treat vehicles, machinery and equipment imports before they arrive in New Zealand.
At present, 18 countries have pre-treatment requirements. The proposed new list will increase to 33 countries.
Autohub NZ chief executive Frank Willett says the revised list “is not surprising” given the rapid proliferation of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) throughout Europe, Asia and other countries.
“In fact, Autohub expected more countries to be added to the list,” he says.
Alignment between MPI and Australian counterpart Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) is also being proposed, making it easier for traders and shippers to comply.
This “is logical and welcomed as many shipping lines combine cargos to both countries regularly,” he says.
“Having different policies and requirements forcing shipping lines to separate cargos to separate vessels is ridiculous and not efficient or cost effective.
“Where this has not occurred through the last season, vessels have been delayed for periods and on occasions then missed their berthing window at following ports and transhipping services.
“In one case we had vehicles on a vessel that called into Australia first. It was held up for some days and the downstream effect was vehicles that were discharged in Auckland and scheduled to be transhipped to Christchurch were significantly delayed.
“Some shipping lines have already decreed that all cargos destined for Oceania will not be accepted for loading unless BMSB treated all year round.
“It would not be a surprise to us if this becomes a standard requirement from all shipping lines at some stage soon as the cost of delays and de-infestation of cargos and vessels can run into the millions.
“Despite the additional costs of treating vehicles for an additional four months a year, Autohub feels it would be sensible to look at putting BMSB treatment in place all year round as this then better removes the risks of delays and additional costs that can be incurred once BMSB is found to be present on a vessel.
“The last thing NZ can afford to have is one or more of the shipping lines decide to cease accepting to ship used vehicles due to risk and cost,” Willett says.
Toyofuji Shipping NZ general manager Blain Paterson says he also supports the idea of an industry approach to tackling stink bugs.
“As a shipping company we would prefer if [heat treatment] was 12 month of the year.
“Having it all year round would take a lot stress of us but at the moment it hasn’t happened.
“I think any shipping company would support it because it takes away the risk, being heat treated takes the problems away … it’s a good initiative that’s working not just for BMSB but other bugs also,” Paterson says.
Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) chief executive David Vinsen also supports the idea of an industry-led initiative to have vessels treated all year round.
This would provide “greater certainty” for everyone involved.
“We don’t ever want to be exposed to the disruption in trade we had last year.
“The industry combined needs to do everything possible not only to meet, but to exceed MPI’s requirements. We don’t want to take the risk,” Vinsen says.
Vinsen says the shipping companies “bore all the costs” of last year’s BMSB disruption. If there was a repeated crisis “extreme delays and costs” would be felt by the wider industry, he says.
MPI increased its border checks of arriving vessels at the start of this year’s stink bug season. It also introduced tighter rules for importing vehicles for a number of countries.
Biosecurity New Zealand spokesperson Dr Cath Duthie says the changes are intended to make it harder for BMSB to establish in New Zealand.
“The invasive pest is continuing to spread throughout Europe and the United States. The proposed new measures will help stop bugs from hitching a ride to New Zealand,” Duthie says.
So far this season, to the end of March, border officers have detected 123 live stink bugs.
The consultation runs from April 3 to June 3 2019.
