It is highly likely that Fiji would now resume its exports of fisheries products to the European market, in the very near future, says the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
This comes as an outcome of a report of a Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) mission undertaken by the EU to Fiji in September 2010.
The mission is part of EU’s program of inspections in Member States and third countries, which export products for human consumption to the European Union.
The main objectives of the mission were, to evaluate the public health conditions for the production of fishery products intended for export to the European Union and to evaluate whether official controls, put in place by Fiji’s Competent Authority (FCA), which is the Ministry of Health, can guarantee that the conditions of production of Fishery Products (FP) in Fiji destined for export to the European Union (EU), are in line with the requirements laid down in the EU regulation, and in particular with the health attestations contained in the Commission Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005.
“After inspections of the fish processing, packing plant and hygienic systems, the report concludes that the Fijian authorities are now in a position to sign the public health requirements for imports of fishery products intended for human consumption as described in the European Commission¹s Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005,” he said.
The report also concludes that Fiji’s CA is well structured and organized, that a well documented control system is in place, that regular training sessions are conducted for officials, who have improved their knowledge of specific EU requirements for FP, and that the administrative procedures regarding the eligibility of imported raw materials to be used in the production of FP intended for EU export are in line with EU requirements.
“In this regard, the report acknowledges that the CA had the necessary capacity and competent to guarantee that the conditions of production of FP destined for the EU market are in line with the EU requirements,” Ratu Inoke added.
Fiji is not presently listed as part of the list of third countries and territories from which imports of FP in any form for human consumption are permitted, since 2007.
“ The findings in the report of this recent FVO mission bring significant hope for increased FP exports and additional foreign exchange
earner for Fiji, in the not too distant future,” he added.
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