It is the time to get your Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC) certification ready if your ships are visiting countries such as Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand and the US.
The 2026 FSMC season has started, so if your ships are heading towards Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand and US, you should ensure that your ships are fully compliant with FSMC regulations issued by these countries- with data indicated that populations could potentially reach outbreak levels in 2026 as they did in 2025.
As in previous years, any ship that has called at a port in an FSMC-regulated area during the specified risk period of the current or previous year will be considered high risk. These ships are generally required to obtain an FSMC-free certificate at the last port visited within the high risk area before sailing to a regulating country.
Despite similar specified risk periods existing in the countries issuing their FSMC regulations, the regulations are still not completely aligned with one another. Each country may have its own specific requirements on how the risk period is imposed or which countries in the specified risk period will be the target for inspection and you are advised to ensure you are up to date with all specific requirements.
Please note the following updates for the 2026 season:
United States & Canada
Ships should expect increased enforcement intensity with tougher inspection practices including closer scrutiny of self-inspection records. There is a higher likelihood of arrival inspections and stricter verification of port of call data due to forecasts of potential outbreak level FSMC populations in 2026.
Australia
Australia has changed its heightened FSMC surveillance window earlier, with it starting the 1 January 2026 and running until 31 May 2026. In addition, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has expanded automated pre-arrival targeting and has tighter digital screening. Australia will be targeting any ship that has visited a port in Eastern Russia between 40°N and 60°N, or west of 147°E, anytime between 1 July and 30 September in the previous two calendar years.
Time constraint changes
New Zealand targets only ships that have visited a FSMC regulated area during the specified risk period in the last 12 months. Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile and the US generally use a 24-month look back period to determine the FSMC risk.
As not all countries have harmonised FSMC regulations, you should consider checking each country’s regulations before visiting. If you are a BIMCO member, you can see more FSMC information in the member area of our website (login required)
See also our BIMCO FSMC clause for Time Charter Parties 2023. You may wish to also check with the port agent before arriving at the port so delays to ships are mitigated and to check the guidance issued by your P&I club.
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