As per notice from the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and New Zealand MPI, all cargo shipping from the United States to or via Australia and New Zealand must comply with fumigation regulations against the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB).

 

 

 

If you ship goods to Oceania, then you may need to find more information on your cargo requirements online on the following websites:

However, the most important thing you must know is that any cargo transported from the USA to Australia and New Zealand must be fumigated. A copy of the fumigation certificate must be provided to the ocean freight carrier to obtain the cargo release to international transportation from the USA. The original fumigation certificate must prove the cargo fumigation at the destination.

 

Do not confuse ISPM15 wood-packing regulations in international cargo transportation with the fumigation requirements on cargo shipping from the USA to Australia and New Zealand.

 

Even though different countries worldwide are more or less restricted in shipping wood-packed cargo, the ISPM15 rules apply to all freight shipping out of the United States, regardless of country of destination.

 

Unlike ISPM15, the fumigation regulations mainly relate to shipping goods to Oceania, particularly cargo transportation to Australia and New Zealand. Nowadays, the fumigation of cargo from the U.S. to Australia and New Zealand has become mandatory. International carriers can no longer count on loyalty from officials in Australia and New Zealand. As a result, all ocean freight carriers have sharply tightened the requirements associated with cargo shipping fumigation from the United States to Oceania. Now, all carriers require the fumigation of cargo shipping from the USA to Australia and New Zealand. If the fumigation certificate is not presented accordingly, the related booked shipment will not be loaded. Compliance with all requirements is the responsibility of the shipper.

 

 

 

To avoid problems related to shipping freight from the USA to Oceania, cargo consolidators began fumigating cargo at their freight terminals (CFSs). Typically, they charge $30 w/m for the fumigation, with a minimum of $100-300 per shipment, depending on the carrier.
 
Otherwise, international shippers may fumigate shipping goods on their own. Then, they must provide a copy of the fumigation certificate before the cargo is delivered to the CFS. However, at the destination, cargo recipients must furnish the original fumigation certificate.
 
Remember that if the destination country's officials consider the certificate invalid, enormous penalties and charges will apply, including expenses on fumigation, storage, cargo handling, etc. The cost may easily exceed $US1000. Cargo return to the USA or cargo destruction will also lead to significant expenses.

 

Suppose you ship goods from the USA to Australia or New Zealand. In that case, we strongly suggest utilizing carriers' fumigation services and paying for the fumigation directly to the carrier scheduled for your international shipment. In this case, the carrier will include fumigation charges into their rated bill of lading's freight charges breakdown. If any problems related to the fumigation occur, the carrier is held responsible for the fumigation. However, in our practice, cargo fumigated by carriers and shipped to Australia or New Zealand has never experienced problems related to fumigation.   
 
Nowadays, if you ship freight to Oceania, you should always consider these Australian and New Zealand fumigation regulations and be prepared to pay the related fees.

 

Below is just a sample of correspondence on cargo shipped to Australia. The shipper was unable to provide a valid fumigation certificate at the destination.