by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
Fiji’s export of papaya to Australia and New Zealand has drawn the attention of concerned authorities after a recent suspension by New Zealand. Papaya (pawpaw) and eggplant are two bilateral quarantine agreement commodities that are exported from Fiji to both Australia and New Zealand.
In a meeting this week, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism with Biosecurity Authority of Fiji met with the Deputy High Commissioner of Australia to discuss Australian imports of Fijian papaya (pawpaw).
Minister for Public Enterprise, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said the meeting was to ensure that the Australian imports of Fijian papaya would continue as normal despite the recent suspension by New Zealand.
Import requirements for Fijian papaya and additional measures implemented by the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji were presented during the meeting for Australian authorities to review. The requirements were reviewed to make sure all was applicable and beneficial for both parties.
According to Minister Sayed-Khaiyum, the Australian authorities were satisfied with the additional measures implemented by the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji to ensure all exports comply with the requirements.
The Australian government has assured Fiji that it will not take any actions to restrict imports from Fiji, and that the export of papaya to Australia will remain unaffected.
