Area Ports of Blaine and Seattle
PURPOSE:
This Trade Notice is to inform all vessel agents and shipping lines of the requirements of vessels arriving in North America which have called on areas regulated for FSMC. More information can be found here https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/joint-fsmc-bulletin-usda-cfia.pdf
BACKGOUND:
FSMC is a serious pest that can be carried on vessels and cargo. FSMC populations are prevalent in some seaport areas in Far East Russia, Japan, Korea, and Northern China. North America ports experienced a high number of vessels arriving with FSMC egg masses in 2025, some vessels were so heavily infested they were ordered to leave the port. Data indicates populations could reach outbreak levels again in 2026.
ACTION:
For vessels that have called on areas regulated for FSMC during the specified periods as outlined in Table 1, the following measures are required:
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Vessels should be inspected and certificated free of FSMC by a recognized certification body. A copy of the certificate, stating that the vessel is free of FSMC life stages, should be forwarded to the vessel’s U.S. or Canadian agents. A certificate is valid until the vessel calls another port in a regulated area during the specified risk period. During the flight period, inspection should be conducted and certification issued as close to departure as possible — ideally during daylight hours and on the same day as departure. Arranging for inspection and certification services as far in advance as possible and providing two-year port of call history at the time of that request allows the inspection and certification body to better plan for delivery of the service in a timely manner.
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Vessels must arrive in North American ports free from FSMC. To avoid facing re-routing, being ordered out of port for cleaning and other potential impacts associated with mitigating the risk of entry of FSMC to North America, crews should perform intensive vessel self-inspections to look for, remove (scrape off) and properly dispose of or destroy all egg masses and other life stages of FSMC prior to entering U.S. and Canadian ports.
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Vessels must provide two-year ports of call data, at least 96 hours prior to arrival in a North American port, to the vessel’s Canadian or U.S. agent. The agent is to ensure that this information is provided to U.S. or Canadian officials.
Conducting post certification checks of the vessel while enroute to North America and removing any FSMC observed, particularly after navigating shipping routes close to shore in FSMC regulated areas, is recommended to confirm continued freedom from FSMC prior to arrival.
Table 1. Regulated Areas and Specified Risk Periods*
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Country
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Port or Prefecture
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Specified Risk Period
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Russian Far East
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Nakhodka, Ol'ga, Plastun, Pos'yet, Russkiy Island, Slavyanka, Vanino, Vladivostok, Vostochny, Zarubino, Kozmino
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June 15 to October 15
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People's Republic of China
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All ports in northern China, including all ports on or north of 31°15´
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June 1 to September 30
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Republic of Korea
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All ports
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June 1 to September 30
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Japan – Northern
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Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Hokkaido, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata
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June 15 to October 15
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Japan – Central
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Aichi, Chiba, Fukui, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Kanagawa, Mie, Niigata, Shizuoka, Tokyo, Toyama
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June 1 to September 30
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Japan – Southern
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Ehime, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Oita, Okayama, Osaka, Saga, Shimane, Tokushima, Tottori, Wakayama, Yamaguchi
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May 15 to August 31
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Japan – Far Southern
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Okinawa
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May 25 to June 30
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*Specified risk period is the time period when there is a risk of FSMC flight and egg mass deposition.
It is the responsibility of the shipping lines to meet all requirements for entry to the U.S. and Canada, including freedom from FSMC and other pests of concern. We strongly urge maritime interests to take all possible precautions to ensure vessels are free from FSMC when arriving in the U.S. and Canadian ports. For further information on the FSMC program, please visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and/or USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s websites.
Please be advised that, although the U.S. and Canada are in full agreement on the requirement for FSMC pre-departure certification and vessels arriving free from all FSMC life forms (egg masses, pupae, adults), due to sovereign regulations and policies, there are differences in port of entry processes between the two countries. Please contact local inspection authorities at the port of entry if you have any questions regarding FSMC import requirements or clearance procedures.
Please contact local inspection authorities at the port of entry if you have any questions regarding FSMC import requirements or clearance procedures. For general questions regarding this notice, reporting arrivals, or providing required FSMC documentation for the ports of Seattle (3001), Tacoma (3002), Everett (3006), Olympia (3026), or Aberdeen (3003), please email SEATTLEAGRICULTURE@cbp.dhs.gov or call (206) 553-1581 ext. 3#. Ports of Anacortes (3010) and Bellingham (3005) email BLAINEAGCARGO@cbp.dhs.gov
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