Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC)

The Club would like to bring to the attention of Members, particularly those with vessels trading with Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand and U.S. the start of the 2025 season for the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC). 

FSMC regulations are imposed by many countries on vessels entering their ports once they have traded in a FSMC risk area.

Members should note that, despite similar specified risk periods, each country may have its own specific requirements detailing how the risk period is imposed and/or which countries in the specified risk period will be the target for inspection.

See example of Joint Memo by Canada (CFIA_ACIA) and USDA

* Specified risk period is the time period when there is a risk of FSMC flight and egg mass deposition

The normal requirement is that a ship that has called at a port in a regulated FSMC area during the specified risk period of the current or previous year will be considered a ship at high FSMC risk. This means that in general, the ship is required to obtain a formal FSMC-free certificate from the last port visited in the high-risk area.

When planning a voyage to a port within the FSMC risk area Members are advised to consult with their local agents and Club correspondents on this subject, to ensure that they have met all requirements for the upcoming voyage(s) (before departing from the port in the FSMC risk area). Appropriate consideration should be given to the applicable risk period when planning.

Members are reminded that since 2022, the use of the previously referenced Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) has been dropped and, in its place, Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC) is now the new name.