Shipping companies need to prepare for phytosanitary inspections. Vessels calling at ports in Eastern Asia and the Russian Far East between May and October should be inspected and certified free of the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex before departing. This preventative measure will minimize the risk of regulatory issues upon arrival in countries where this pest is not established, reports Gard.
Risks Involved
The Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC), a group of destructive forest pests including several Lymantria species, threatens international trade because it can spread via ships. Currently, established populations exist only in China, Korea, Japan, and the Russian Far East.
The FSMC flight season, when females lay eggs and pose a risk of depositing them on vessels, runs from May to October. However, the specified risk period (SRP) varies by port due to location and climate. FSMC egg masses can survive extreme temperatures and moisture, and larvae can hatch months or even years later. If this happens in a non-native country with a suitable climate, it can severely impact agriculture and forests. Therefore, FSMC exclusion is a priority for many regions.
Countries Involved
While many countries regulating the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC) claim to follow North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) recommendations, there’s no uniform international regulation. Most require vessels arriving from regulated East Asian and Russian Far East ports during the specified risk period (SRP) to declare their visits and often require inspection and FSMC-free certification from a recognized body. However, differences exist in requirements, port processes, regulated area definitions, and SRPs due to individual regulations.
Here’s a breakdown of some key regulatory differences:
- Canada & US: Aligned policies on regulated areas and SRPs (following NAPPO). Vessels calling at regulated ports during the SRP in the last 24 months must arrive FSMC-free with pre-departure certification. Self-inspection is also strongly encouraged.
- Chile: Also aligned with NAPPO on regulated areas and SRPs, and has similar pre-departure certification requirements. However, Chile doesn’t provide its own list of recognized inspection bodies, instead deferring to the exporting country’s phytosanitary authority.
- Argentina: Largely follows NAPPO on regulated areas and SRPs. However, it defines regulated East Asian/Russian ports as “all ports between 20° and 60° N latitude” and includes Akita and Yamagata Prefectures in “Western Japan” (longer SRP). Like the US and Canada, it has its own list of recognized inspection bodies and similar pre-departure certification requirements.
- New Zealand: Aligned with NAPPO on regulated areas and SRPs. However, only vessels visiting regulated ports during the SRP in the past 12 months require pre-departure certificates.
- Australia: Targets vessels visiting Russian Far East ports (40ºN-60ºN, west of 147ºE) between July 1st and September 30th in the previous two calendar years. Australia doesn’t have certification requirements like other countries. High-risk vessels are assessed and may be subject to FSMC inspection upon arrival.
Port Entry Requirements
While vessels can be inspected for FSMC year-round, some countries designate periods of heightened surveillance and more systematic inspections due to favorable local climatic conditions for larval hatching and spread.
- Canada: FSMC certification requirements apply only during spring/summer (March 1st to September 15th in western ports, March 15th to September 15th in eastern ports).
- Australia: Heightened vessel surveillance for FSMC typically occurs from January to May.
If FSMC egg masses are found during inspection, the vessel’s required actions depend on the country’s regulations, local climate, level of infestation, and egg mass development stage.
Some vessels may be allowed to berth before cleaning and insecticide treatment, while others, deemed high-risk due to itinerary and the presence of fresh, viable egg masses, may be ordered to leave the country’s waters immediately.
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Source: Gard
