Minister for Agriculture Liutenant-Colonel Inia Seruiratu (left) and the Australian acting head of Mission Glenn Miles (right) signing the documents witnessed by Biosecurity Authority of Fiji chief executive officer, Waisiki Gonemaituba.
By RACHNA LAL
Fiji and Australia have signed the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme arrangement.
The agreement was signed this week at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community by the Minister for Agriculture, Lieutenant-Colonel Inia Seruiratu and the acting Australian head of Mission, Glenn Miles.
It will facilitate promote co-operation between Australian Department of Agriculture Forestry’s and Fisheries (DAFF) and Biosecurity Authority of Fiji in developing, implementing and maintaining co-operative biosecurity initiatives.
Being accredited to the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme would allow Fiji the benefits of accessing other countries accredited to this scheme.
Lieutenant-Colonel Seruiratu said this would facilitate trade by reducing delays in the international movement of cargo caused by poor quarantine treatment practices.
“One of the Government policies is to promote agricultural exports and to meet import standard of some of the importing countries where fumigation is required,” he said.
“It is prudent that we are accredited to a reputable scheme like Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Seruiratusaid the signing was very timely as Fiji prepares for its first ever consignment of fresh ginger export to Australia in the coming months.
Mr Miles said the implementation of this scheme would enable Fiji to be more responsive to international trade demand, which is paramount in an export-driven economy.
“But most of all it will assist business and will create economic opportunities for Fiji across a range of sectors and its benefits will be felt across communities,” he said.
Providing service to region
About 97 personnel have been trained by DAFF in Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme programme.
These personnel include Biosecurity Authority of Fiji officers, Fiji fumigation providers, Vanuatu, Tonga, Tuvalu and Solomon Island officials.
The mode of training has been theory, field work and examination for the participants.
Lietenant-Colonel Seruiratu said Biosecurity Authority of Fiji master trainers have travelled to Solomon Islands to train their quarantine officers and fumigation providers early this year.
“Fiji is looking forward to strengthening its capacity in this field and become the hub and provider of this service to the region,” he said.