News: Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) regulations in Argentina

As mentioned in the club’s previous news item on the Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) season (2020), there is an addition of Argentina in the list of countries that are known to regulate and inspect vessels for AGM.

Members are advised that the Argentinean National Health and Agri-Food Quality Service (SENASA) has recently issued Resolution 764/2020 that will enter into force from January-2021, imposing specific measures related to infestations of certain breeds of the Gypsy Moth.

The regulation applies to all ocean-going vessels which have departed from or stayed in areas with presence of Asian (AGM) and Japanese (JGM) Lymantria Dispar, within the last 24 months prior to its arrival an Argentinean port. Vessels in this category must:

• arrive with a Certificate of Vessel Free of AGM or JGM issued by the phytosanitary authority of the last port of departure or presence as stipulated in the new regulation
• notify SENASA, 72 hours prior to arrival to any Argentinean port, whether exempted or not from the Certificate of Vessel Free of AGM or JGM.

In all cases, SENASA will assess the phytosanitary risk of the vessel which will be always subject to inspection by SENASA. Depending on the circumstances, this inspection may result in a cleaning and phytosanitary treatment order at port or on an appropriate site designated to such end. Impossibility to clean and treat the vessel will result on the vessel being banned from entering to Argentinean ports.

Infringements to the regulation may result in fines amounting up to AR$ 10,000,000 (around US$ 133,333). SENASA could impose further precautionary measures to avoid a sanitary risk.

For further details, members are recommended to refer to the notice in the attachment box.​

Category: Loss Prevention