The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji is reviewing its laws to better facilitate trade.
The Authority started with its first round of consultations in the Capital today hoping to complete the draft legislation by February next year.
Biosecurity Authority of Fiji is currently operating under the Biosecurity Promulgation of 2008.
However the existing laws are said to have certain trade barriers which the Authority hopes to address by modernizing it.
“For example we are importing wheat for so many years but there are certain requirements. For example you have to have a phytosanitary certificate and it has to be an original one despite importing from the same buyer for so many years. We still have to have that original certificate at the boarder for it to be cleared. SO there is a way where the world is moving to e-certification. SO the provisions currently don’t allow us to have e certificates,” said the chairman of BAF, Mr. Xavier Riyaz Khan- Chairman.
With Fiji’s aspiration to become a major trade transit hub in the region, Khan says modernizing and harmonizing our existing laws remains crucial.
“With this review we anticipate to have a modern promulgation where we incorporate the plant, food and animal component and on the same time we ensure that promulgation meets the international standards and the service delivery is improved. Biosecurity’s promulgation may have some red tapes, we have found it and worked around it to ensure that our service delivery isn’t affected”
With fast evolving biosecurity risks, the review has been timely.
“There are few folds. For exporters and importers, it means less trade barriers, more efficient service delivery, and more modern way of doing business with BAF”
The next round of consultations will commence in a couple of weeks.
These consultations are supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization.