Web Alert: Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) - 2019 Risk Period

The club would like to remind its members on the upcoming high risk season for Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM). During this time it is expected that port state inspectors in the United States, Canada, Chile, Australia and New Zealand will increase their efforts to prevent the spread of this invasive species.

The club would like to remind its members on the upcoming high risk season for Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM). During this time it is expected that port state inspectors in the United States, Canada, Chile, Australia and New Zealand will increase their efforts to prevent the spread of this invasive species. The regulated areas and risk periods for 2019 are mentioned below.

Country	Port or Prefecture	Risk Period
Russian Far East	Nakhodka, Ol’ga, Plastun, Pos’yet, Russkiy Island, Slavyanka, Vanino, Vladivostok, Vostochny, Zarubino and Kozmino	1 July to 30 September
China	All ports north of 31°15’N	1 June to 30 September
Republic of Korea	All ports	1 June to 30 September
Japan - Northern	Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima	1 July to 30 September
Japan - Western	Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama and Ishikawa	25 June to 15 September
Japan - Eastern	Fukui, Ibaraki, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi and Mie	20 June to 20 August
Japan - Southern	Wakayama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Nagasaki, Miyazaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima	1 June to 10 August
Far South Japan	Okinawa	25 May to 30 June

United States and Canada

Ships that have called above mentioned regulated areas in the past 24 months, shall ensure that required pre-departure certificates are obtained and additional self-inspections are conducted at the final AGM risk port. For more details, please find attached on the right the bulletin jointly issued by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Chile

Ships that arrive from ports located in North East and Far East Asia between 20°N and 60°N must be issued with an official phytosanitary certificate stating that 'the vessel (vessel name) was inspected and is considered to be free from AGM'. A copy of the logbook or a list of the ports called must be provided at least 24 hours prior to arrival at a Chilean port.

The requirements will be applied to ships which have, during the past 24 months, been in Eastern Russian, Japanese, Chinese or Korean ports during specified risk periods – which runs from 25 May through to 30 September (depending on the region visited, the female AGM flight period). Ships arriving without suitable certification will be subjected to an inspection and phytosanitary treatment prior to being granted clearance to enter the port. For further information, please refer to Chilean Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) website.

Australia

In Australia, the AGM programme is managed by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAFF) that makes a risk based assessment of each ship based on the information provided in the pre-arrival free pratique form.

The regulated areas include Far East Russian ports only; and as per the industry advice 06-2018, the heightened surveillance period for Australian ports is between January and May each year.

Ships 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. In order to assist with the risk assessment, members are recommended to collate as much information as possible on the movements of the ship. Actions taken by the crew to inspect the ship and photographs of any efforts taken to eradicate any moth eggs found should be provided as this will assist Australian authorities to conduct the risk assessment.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, the AGM programme is managed by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).

MPI issued the Asian Gypsy Moth Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS) for vessels and its guidance document on 16 October 2018. The new standard comes into force on 1 February 2018. The CRMS continues to require ships that, in the past 12 months, have visited AGM regulated areas in China, East Russia, Japan or Korea during the AGM flight season to provide a valid certificate of freedom of AGM upon arrival in New Zealand. Such certificates must be obtained from an inspection body recognised by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).

BIMCO’s AGM clause for time charter parties

Members are recommended to refer to the attached BIMCO’s clause for time charter parties, which aims to provide a practical solution on the basic obligations and responsibilities of owners and charterers when dealing with the AGM.