Asian Gypsy Moth – it’s that time of the year again

Spring marks the beginning of the Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) risk period in many countries. Heightened vessel surveillance for AGM commenced on 9 January 2017 in Australian ports while 1 March 2017 marks the start of the period identified as the “AGM risk period” in Western Canadian ports.

AGM is an exotic pest with established populations only in countries in the Asia Pacific, such as Russia, China, Korea, and Japan. If introduced in countries where it does not exist naturally, it has the potential to seriously affect the country’s agricultural and forest resources. Adult moths frequently lay their egg masses on vessels and shipping containers, and since these egg clusters often survive to hatch at ports of call around the world, exclusion efforts are considered a priority by many local port authorities.

Countries currently known to regulate and inspect arriving vessels for AGM are: the United States (US), Canada, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. However, even if these countries agree on the objectives of AGM regulation, there are still differences in the requirements and port-of-entry processes between the countries.

Information for the 2017 AGM season

Gard’s “Frequently asked questions - managing Asian Gypsy Moth risks” was updated on 24 February 2017 and, in addition to providing answers to some of the questions raised by our Members and clients, it summarises the requirements set forth by each of the regulating countries and provides links to relevant government websites. The following should be noted:

• Canada and the US issued this year’s Joint AGM Industry Notice in February 2017 and continue to require vessels that, in the past 24 months, were in one of the regulated areas during the specified risk period, to present a valid pre-departure certificate.

• Canada also published a policy clarification on Canadian AGM requirements on 23 January 2017, stating that inspection and certification for AGM is required in Canadian ports also if vessels have called only at bunkering locations in the Asian Pacific areas regulated for AGM - including those at anchorage sites.  

• The US revised its special procedures for ships arriving from areas with AGM on 1 December 2016.

• Australia announced in its Notice to Industry 121-2016 that the heightened vessel surveillance window for the county’s ports commenced on 9 January 2017 and that related inspection activities are expected to conclude on 31 May 2017.

• Australia also launched its new Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS) during 2016, which is an online web portal to be used by commercial vessel Masters and shipping agents to submit pre-arrival documents required of all international vessels seeking Australian biosecurity clearance. 

• New Zealand extended its list of regulated areas in the Asia Pacific prior to the 2016 AGM flight season and continues to require vessels that, in the past 12 months, were in one of these regulated areas during the specified risk period, to present a valid pre-departure certificate.

• Chile’s definition of regulated areas includes ports located between 20°and 60° N latitude and may therefore include southern ports in the Asia Pacific that are not regulated by some of the other countries.

Recommendations

Members and clients with vessels calling ports in East Russia, Japan, Korea, and Northern China are advised to remind their Masters of the approaching AGM flight seasons. The importance of arriving in regulating countries free of AGM and of providing port officials with the required AGM documentation prior to arrival should be emphasised and instructions for proper AGM self-inspections en route should be made available onboard.

United States (US)

The AGM programme is managed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS,www.aphis.usda.gov).

US’ definition of regulated areas and specified risk periods

Regulated areas include ports in East Russia, Japan, Korea and Northern China and the US base their AGM policy on the following specified risk periods:

US entry requirements

Vessels that, in the past 24 months, has visited one of the risk areas during the specified risk period must:

• obtain a valid pre-departure certificate from a recognised certification body issued at the last port of call in a risk area;

• perform vessel self-inspections en route; and

• forward a copy of the pre-departure certificate together with two years of port of call data to the vessel’s local agent at least 96 hours prior to arrival. The agent must ensure that this information is provided to US officials.

Vessels arriving without the required certificates will be inspected for AGM and are likely to encounter significant delays in cargo operations as well as in routine clearance.

Inspection periods in US ports

Vessels that, in the past 24 months, have visited one of the regulated areas during the specified risk period must:

• obtain a valid pre-departure certificate from a recognised certification body issued at the last port of call in a regulated area;

• perform vessel self-inspections en route; and

• forward a copy of the pre-departure certificate together with two years of port of call data to the vessel’s local agent at least 96 hours prior to arrival. The agent must ensure that this information is provided to US officials.

Inspections in US ports

We are not aware that any specific heightened surveillance periods are specified for US ports. Although climatic periods conducive to sustain AGM lifecycles are likely to occur from March through September in Northern US ports, such conditions may exist all year round in Southern US ports. It is therefore the local climatic conditions at a given US port at the time of entry as well as a vessel’s itinerary and certification that determines its level of risk. The following enforcement actions can be expected:

• Non-certified vessels will receive AGM inspections at all US ports on each voyage when the itinerary suggests an AGM risk.

• Certified vessels will be subject to an assessment of risk to determine the need for inspection.

• If AGM is suspected on a vessel, re-inspections at subsequent ports will occur.

• If AGM is detected, and/or confirmed, the vessel will be subject to receive removal orders and may be removed from port.

Available information from APHIS

Relevant information includes a separate Gypsy Moth web page, found under the Plant Pests and Diseases Programs. This page provides links to a number of useful publications such as the Asian Gypsy Moth factsheet as well as to their relevant inspection requirements, outlined in the Special Procedures for Ships Arriving from Areas with Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM). APHIS has also produced aGypsy Moth Inspectional Pocket Guide which provides helpful instructions to the crew responsible for performing self-assessments, e.g. what the egg masses look like, where they might be found on vessels, and how the eggs should be removed.

Canada

The AGM programme is managed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA,www.inspection.gc.ca).

Canada’s definition of regulated areas and specified risk periods

CIFA and the US APHIS are working together to manage AGM risks at origin and the Canadian requirements are aligned with the requirements enforced in US ports. Hence, Canada’s definition of regulated areas and specified risk periods are equivalent to those of the US listed above. In addition, CIFA has published a policy clarification stating that the country’s AGM policy does not exempt bunkering locations, including those at anchorage sites, located in the defined regulated areas.

Canadian entry requirements

As for entry to US ports, vessels that, in the past 24 months, has visited one of the regulated areas during the specified risk period must:

• obtain a valid pre-departure certificate from a recognised certification body issued at the last port of call in a regulated area;

• perform vessel self-inspections en route; and

• forward a copy of the pre-departure certificate together with two years of port of call data to the vessel’s local agent at least 96 hours prior to arrival. The agent must ensure that this information is provided to Canadian officials.

Inspections in Canadian ports

CIFA states that the AGM risk period for Canada begins on 1 March in Western Canadian ports and on 15  March in Eastern Canadian ports and ends on 15 September for all Canadian ports. During these periods, vessels arriving without the required certificates may be refused entry into Canada unless an inspection by the CFIA at a designated offshore inspection site is conducted, and the inspector is satisfied that the risk of introducing AGM has been mitigated. If an inspector is not satisfied that the risk of introducing AGM has been mitigated, the vessel will be ordered out of Canadian waters and may be refused entry for up to two years. Outside the AGM high risk periods for Canada, vessels classified as high risk of AGM are likely to be allowed to berth without interruption, subject to inspections at the discretion of the CIFA.

Available information from CIFA

Relevant information includes a separate AGM web page, found under the Plant Protection Program. This page provides links to a number of useful publications such as the Pest Factsheet as well as to their relevant inspection requirements, which are outlined in Policy Directive D-95-03 “Plant protection policy for marine vessels arriving in Canada from areas regulated for Asian Gypsy Moth”. Associated guidance documents clarifying CIFA’s certification requirements and critical response planto prevent the incursion of AGM via marine vessels are also available. In addition, CFIA has produced an Inspect Before Entry Guide which provides helpful instructions to the crew responsible for performing self-assessments. The guide can also be printed as a poster that can be displayed onboard the vessel.

Chile

The AGM programme is managed by the Chilean Agriculture and Livestock Service (Servicio Agricola y Ganadero (SAG), www.sag.cl).

Chile’s definition of regulated areas and specified risk periods

SAG’s regulations concerning entry of vessels from areas with presence of AGM (Exempt Resolution No.: 4412/2013) entered into force in February 2014. Regulated areas include ports in Russia, Japan, Korea and China between 60°N and 20°N latitude and Chile base their AGM policy on the following definition of regulated areas and specified risk periods: 

Chilean entry requirements

Vessels that, in the past 24 months, were in one of the regulated areas during the specified risk period must:

• obtain a valid pre-departure certificate from a recognised certification body issued at the last port of call in a regulated area; and

• forward a copy of the pre-departure certificate together with two years of port of call data to the Chilean officials at least 24 hours prior to arrival.

Inspections in Chilean ports

We are not aware that any specific heightened surveillance periods are specified for Chilean ports. Vessels arriving without the required certificates will be subject to inspections – the extent and location of the inspection will be determined based on an assessment of a vessel’s overall AGM risk. Such inspection must take place in daylight and free pratique may not be granted until the inspection has been completed.

It should also be noted that SAG may enforce a similar deck and cargo inspection regime for vessels arriving from Ecuador in an effort to prevent an infestation by brown moths (Thyrinteina Arnobia) in Chile, see our Gard Alert of 24 June 2016.

Available information from SAG

Exempt Resolution No.:4412/2013: “Establece requisitos fitosanitarios para el ingreso de naves provenientes de áreas con presencia de polilla gitana raza asiática (pgra) lymantria dispar asiática vnukovskij y lymantria dispar japónica (motschulsky) (lepidoptera, lymantriidae)” can be found here:

in Spanish: Res. No.4412/2013 as revised by Res. No.8870/2015
in English (free translations): Res. No. 4412/2013 as revised by Res. No.8870/2015

Australia

The AGM programme is managed by the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAFF, www.agriculture.gov.au).

Australia’s definition of regulated areas and specified risk periods

The regulated areas include ports in Russia only and Australia base their AGM policy on the following definition of regulated areas and specified risk periods: 

Australian entry requirements

Australia has no formal requirements for vessels to be certified free of AGM. However, as part of the Australian Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS) and the required Pre-Arrival Report (PAR), vessels are required to:

• disclose whether they, in the past 24 months, visited a port in the regulated area during the specified risk period (question 6), and if yes;

• advise if they since the last port call in a regulated area have been inspected and cleared by an agricultural authority in Australia, Russia, Canada, New Zealand or the US (question 6.2), and if yes;

• forward a copy of the relevant clearance certificate as an attachment to the PAR.

Inspections in Australian ports

DAFF states that the heightened surveillance period for Australian ports is between January and May each year. Vessels classified as high risk of AGM will be assessed by DAFF to determine the need for AGM inspection on arrival and will be notified if a targeted AGM inspection is required as part of their first port arrival formalities.

Available information from DAFF

Relevant information includes an AGM Factsheet, found under their information on high risk cargo pests that shall be considered before importing goods to Australia. Access to the Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS), containing Pre-Arrival Report forms, user guides and frequently asked questions, is available via DAFF’s Biosecurity > Vessels portal. Changes to the targeted AGM inspection program are usually announced through their Import Industry Advice Notices. The vessel assessment and inspection arrangement for 2017 was announced in Notice No.121-2016.

New Zealand

The AGM programme is managed by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI, www.mpi.govt.nz).

New Zealand’s definition of regulated areas and specified risk periods

Regulated areas include ports in East Russia, Japan, Korea and Northern China and New Zealand base their AGM policy on the following definition of regulated areas and specified risk periods:

New Zealand entry requirements

Vessels that, in the past 12 months, were in one of the regulated areas during the specified risk period must:

• obtain a valid pre-departure certificate from a recognised certification body issued at the last port of call in a regulated area; and

• provide one year of port of call data with the Advanced Notice of Arrival prior to arrival to New Zealand.

Inspections in New Zealand ports

We are not aware that any specific heightened surveillance periods are specified for New Zealand ports. Vessels arriving without the required certificates will be subject to inspection at a specific port as determined by the MPI or potentially four nautical miles offshore at an agreed location if the risk is very high.

Available information from the MPI

Relevant information includes an AGM web page and the brochure ”Don't bring hitchhikers to New Zealand on your commercial vessel” found under the Hitchhiker Pests website. The page Vessel arrival process steps provides an overview of all requirements applicable to vessels arriving in New Zealand.