by Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Fiji Sun Online
The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) has detained pineapple & banana tissue culture cultures at Nadi International Airport.
The consignment was for Pacific Community (SPC) Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) and has been detailed due to failure to meet import requirements.
BAF as a Quarantine Regulatory Authority with the continuous support of the Fijians and collaborating countries has been able to minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases from entering our shores to safeguard the agricultural sector and export industry.
BAF has opened pathways for importation of regulated articles while ensuring appropriate level of protection and disease equivalence is maintained.
Importers are required to comply with import requirements in order to prevent entry of any pests and diseases which may have devastating impact on the livelihoods of Fijians.
The tissues were detained as the permit conditions were not met and also false declarations were made where a Research Permit was used to seek biosecurity clearance for a commercial consignment of tissue cultures for Pineapple and Banana.
Banana and Pineapple are export commodities and is currently exported to New Zealand under Non Bilateral Quarantine agreement and other countries.
Banana and pineapple are the favourite local tropical fruits which is enjoyed by the Fijians daily.
BAF has taken necessary steps to ensure the research tissue material is imported for research purposes only and not for commercial purposes.
This is taking in consideration the introduction of propagated material without research introduced for planting that may have devastating impacts on the local pineapple and banana varieties.
Impacts
There may be severe impacts on the local varieties affecting supply and directly affecting our export market.
BAF is currently investigating internally on the issuance of the import permit as there is no risk assessment carried out thus such imports are severe breach to Plant biosecurity requirements of Fiji.
The consignment, however, is detained at the Nadi International Airport and will be reshipped to country of origin on the next immediate flight.
Banana and Pineapple are also a crucial export for Fiji and Fijians greatly rely on the export sector for revenue and livelihood.
BAF on the other hand acknowledges that projects of such with benefits to the agricultural sector by providing Food security, Disaster recovery, and livelihood of Fijians.
But it can also introduce exotic pests and pose a danger to this same Agricultural sector and our local varieties of these plants if proper procedures and correct protocols are not followed.
This proactive measure ensures a sustainable, pest free food chain and export pathway and safeguards banana and Pineapple, which are common fruits to see on most Fijian household tables.
BAF is requesting collaboration of all Fijians, stakeholders and importers in protecting our borders, agriculture and export sector.
Source: Fiji Sun Online