www.autofile.co.nz
January 2019
The trusted voice of the auto industry for more than 30 years
Extra action predicted to keep out stink bugs The Motor Industry Association warns ‘it’s only a matter of time’ before all markets are likely to have controls in place
T
he automotive industry is expecting at least two additional export markets to face tough biosecurity requirements in the future to prevent brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSBs) from crossing New Zealand’s border. Supply-chain pathways for new vehicles imported from Japan – from production line to port – must already be approved by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). The process involves marques having strict controls in place to minimise contamination risks so their stock doesn’t have to be heattreated before being shipped as is the case with used imports, which are considered to be at a higher risk of attracting unwanted hitch-hikers. However, there are concerns stink bugs have found their way onto vessels via new cars loaded in China and South Korea during the current high-risk period – although the pests have been discovered before unloading in New Zealand. These two countries, along with
The MPI has issued an advisory about stink bugs on vehicles from China and South Korea
Japan and Malaysia, provide the bulk of new vehicles coming into this country. The MPI has since issued advice in regards to limiting biosecurity threats from China and South Korea, although it has yet to do so for Malaysia. But the Motor Industry Association (MIA) would be unsurprised if – at some point in the foreseeable future – at least South Korea and China are added to
what’s known as “schedule three” of the import health standard (IHS) for vehicles, machinery and equipment. A revised standard was issued by the MPI on August 9 to cover the current stink-bug season, which runs from September 1 to April 30. The changes included 14 countries being added to schedule three in addition to the US and Italy, which means new vehicles from these markets require mandatory treatment or have to go through an approved system during the highrisk period for BMSBs. The extra countries are Austria, Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. However, David Crawford, chief executive officer of the MIA, is surprised China, South Korea and Malaysia do not feature on the expanded list of countries on schedule three. “When the stink-bug issue came onto the agenda in February last year, we asked where the
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