Exports/BQA
Fiji has a Bilateral Quarantine Arrangement (BQA) with New Zealand and Australia for the export of certain commodities. Biosecurity Officers in their respective stations ensure that requirements under the BQA are fulfilled to maintain unhindered exports to these two countries. Produce that do not fall under the BQA are exported to all countries and tagged as non-BQA commodities.
Objectives of the BQA
- Ensuring that all export systems employed in the current export pathways are maintained and improved
- Ensuring new export pathways are developed and adopted (e.g. ginger to Australia, wi fruit and bele leaves to New Zealand)
- Support market access negotiations and retention of such markets by the confirmation of pest free status through regulated pest surveillance programs (e.g. market access submissions for papaya, breadfruit and eggplant to the USA and maintenance of New Zealand and Australian markets)
- Confirmation of pest free areas for established pests through surveys and monitoring of domestic movement of regulated items (e.g. high taro producing islands like Taveuni, Koro and Kadavu are free from the dreaded taro beetle)
Description
The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) Export Team undertakes export related and market access support activities. This includes facilitation of markets for current export commodities; plants and plant products, forest products, animals and animal products, general cargo and other regulated articles. The Export Team also monitors the implementation of new commodity pathways, confirming pest status through surveillance activities and verifying the occurrence and status of established pest(s) through surveys and strict monitoring of domestic movement.
Crucial activities:
- Continued facilitation of existing export commodities for whole of Fiji including Rotuma
- Continued monitoring of current commodity pathways – especially that of HTFA commodities (eggplant, papaya, breadfruit and mango)
- Conducting training and awareness for Biosecurity Officers, Exporters and their workers on all existing pathways including requirements for pack-houses
- Supporting market access and export of new and high-value crops (e.g. ginger)
- Facilitating export treatment and ensuring that such treatments are conducted according to international standards (e.g. Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme [AFAS])
- Conducting audits of treatment providers to maintain compliance to international standards