Ship with bugs not allowed to enter Australia. Huge costs for trader and clients.

A cargo ship carryingTesla Model Y electric vehicles (EVs) along with an infestation of stink bugs has been refused entry to Australia and ordered back to China in the last week of 2023.

According to a report in The Canberra Times, the Glovis Caravel had been circling waters off the coast of Brisbane for weeks as the crew fumigated the vessel.

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry confirmed there were live Yellow Spotted Stink Bugs found onboard the vessel in addition to other biosecurity risks.

 “This is a huge cost for shipping companies and their clients, that could have easily been prevented.”

The vessel became subject to biosecurity control upon entry into Australian territory. The Department understands that the vessel has left Australian territory in order to manage the biosecurity risk associated with the goods.

“There were multiple detections, including Yellow Spotted Stink Bug, which poses significant threat to Australia’s plant health and environment because of the damage it can do to agricultural crops, fruit and ornamental trees.“The department’s primary concern is the management of biosecurity risk to protect Australia. The goods can be unloaded when biosecurity risks have been managed to an acceptable level.”

Huge cost

Control Union’s Pest Management director, Peter de Weert, states: “This is a huge cost for shipping companies and their clients, that could have easily been prevented. Australia is known for it’s strict policy on imported goods. At Control Union we have a lot of experience in treating goods with destination Australia and New-Zealand. Not only for stinkbugs, but also for the BMSB-bug for example.”

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