NZ Cracks Down On Bugged Vehicles

The New Zealand government says shipments of untreated vehicles arriving from the U.S. will be sent back to the U.S. at the shipper's expense under strict new rules intended to keep the South Pacific country free of brown marmorated stink bugs.

A Ministry for Primary Industries directive makes it compulsory for all bulk imported vehicles and machinery parts from the U.S. to be heat treated or fumigated before being shipped to New Zealand.

The ministry introduced mandatory treatment last December for all vehicles and machinery arriving from the U.S., but allowed some treatment of bulk imports on vessels on arrival in New Zealand or on the dock in Auckland, the country’s main port.

“We're taking the restrictions a step further now that treatment facilities are fully operational at the main U.S. vehicle export ports in Baltimore and Savannah,” says Andrew Spelman, a ministry border clearance manager.

The requirement comes after ministry biosecurity staff report finding increasing numbers of the stink bug during border inspections of vehicle and part consignments arriving from the U.S., Spelman says in a statement.

The stink bugs are voracious eaters that attack fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops and could cause serious damage to New Zealand’s important horticulture industry.

“The new rules will minimize the risk of stink bugs establishing in New Zealand well before imported vehicles reach New Zealand,” Spelman says. “This is about pushing the biosecurity risk offshore.

“We will be assessing each arriving vessel on a case-by-case basis, but ultimately some ships could have to return untreated vehicles and machinery to the U.S. at their own expense.”