Lautoka, Labasa declared emergency areas for termites

The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) is taking proactive measures to control and contain the spread of Asian Subterranean Termites.

BAF, under section 77(1) of the Biosecurity promulgation 2008, has declared the areas of Lautoka District in Ba province and Labasa District in Macuata province as Biosecurity Emergency Areas for Asian Subterranean Termites (AST). Under the Declaration movement of all stages of the Asian Subterranean Termites including eggs or of any material hosting Coptotermes gestroi, into or out of the declared Biosecurity Emergency Areas is strictly prohibited. Host material of AST include Coptotermes gestroi nests, soil, potted plants, wood, logs, timber, lumber, kindling, planks, wooden building materials, wooden furniture, live plants, harvested pot plants (pine, mango, cassava, coconut tree and sugarcane), and articles made of cellulose (books, papers, clothing, textiles).

Biosecurity officers are actively monitoring movement of all AST host materials into, within and out of the Biosecurity Emergency Declared zones. The restrictions have been placed on movement of AST host materials to contain and control the spread of the pest to new and un-infested areas. In addition, sugarcane movement from AST infested areas also require adherence to BAF standard movement protocols and advised the sugarcane farmers to contact Biosecurity Office in their respective areas for advice on movement of sugarcane from infested areas. Source: Biosecurity Authority of Fiji