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Director of Quarantine and Inspection Division (QID) Mr Hiagi Foraete said the recent signing of Fiji’s Bio security Law 2008 by His Excellency the President Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda will facilitate Fiji’s international trade. Mr Foraete said the Law which was the product of consultative meetings and workshops with relevant stakeholders will replace the Plant Quarantine Act Cap 156, Animal Importation Act Cap 159 and the Animal Contagious Disease Act Cap 160. “The Law will effectively facilitate Fiji’s international trade through successful market access protocols that will stop the introduction and spread of plant and animal pests and diseases with the movement of goods, services and people,” Mr Foraete explained. “It will also transform QID into a statutory authority with a new organisation structure, the ability to charge of fees for the services it provides and quarantine laws that will be in line with accepted international standards as endorsed under the World Trade Organisations (WTO)”. Mr Foraete said under its new organisation structure, QID will have improved organisational management and service delivery and it will be self sustaining financially through responsible charging of services and the development of a dynamic and modern quarantine service in the country. “Currently, about 20 per cent of the services provided by the Division are charged with minimal fees whereas 80 per cent of the services are provided free while the base fees and charges have not been reviewed since its introduction in the 1960’s. On the organisation structure of the new statutory authority, Mr Foraete explained that it has taken into account their legally binding responsibility to protect Fijis’ animal and plant resources as stipulated under the Plant Quarantine Act Cap 156 and Animal Importation Act Cap 159. “In addition, we have also factored the expansion of the scope of the Department’s responsibilities to also include market access for agro-products coupled with the advanced nature in which QID activities and responsibilities are carried out”. He went on to say that the new law will also cover reviewed quarantine laws to be compatible with international standards given the international trend towards freedom of trade and movement of goods and people. “The law will also harmonise with the Laws on Bio security of the Pacific Forum countries for effective facilitation of trade within the region”. Mr Foraete also said that the Biosecurity legislation was in line with the rules of trade developed by the WTO in the GATT and the standards for assessing biosecurity risks developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the International Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). He acknowledged the assistance from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) which initiated and facilitated the review of the Fiji Quarantine Laws. -Ends- No:0016 |
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