Declaration of Biosecurity Emergency Areas for Asian Subterranean Termites
As of 11th September 2020, there are seven Declarations of Biosecurity Emergency Areas that were published in the Gazette. Over the next few weeks we will look into what these Emergency Declarations are (their purpose), what it encompasses and penalties for not adhering to them. In today’s article we will focus on the Declaration of Biosecurity Emergency Areas for Asian Subterranean Termites (“AST”). With the swarming period going on (August – November), it is imperative for people, particularly in the infested districts of Lautoka and Labasa, to be proactive and adhere to advisories.
1) Declaration of Biosecurity Emergency Areas for Asian Subterranean Termites (Coptotermes gestroi)
Pursuant to Legal Notice No. 84 of 2020, BAF has declared the areas of Lautoka and Labasa as Biosecurity Emergency Areas for Asian Subterranean Termite. The schedule to this Legal Notice particularizes the area as hot spot, alert zone and buffer zone. Under this Declaration of Biosecurity Emergency Area, there is a prohibition of the movement of all stages of Asian Subterranean Termite within or out of the declared biosecurity emergency area. Also, host materials such as nests, soil, potted plants, wood, logs, timber, lumber, kindling, planks, wooden building materials, wooden furniture, live plants and harvested plants (pine, mango, cassava, coconut tree and sugarcane) moving within the biosecurity emergency area or from within the biosecurity emergency area to out of the area is not allowed unless prior approval is sought from the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji.
The reason for prohibiting the movement of Asian Subterranean Termite, exotic to Fiji, both the various stages of the insect itself and its host materials (movement only allowed upon approval given by BAF), is due to the fact that currently these insects are only found in the areas of Lautoka and Labasa and there is a dire need to contain Asian Subterranean Termite in these areas.
Asian Subterranean Termite is the second most destructive subterranean termite in the world. They are only found in the areas mentioned in the Declaration, and currently there is a government funded containment and eradication programme (BAF’s AST Project) also in place to eradicate this pest.
As a measure of enforcement, failure to adhere to the Legal Notice above will result in hefty penalties being issued against perpetrators as outlined in Schedule 5 of the Biosecurity Act 2008. These are as follows:
• For an individual – the maximum fine applicable is $50,000 (Fifty Thousand Dollars) with a fixed penalty of $1,000 (One Thousand Dollars) and/or possible imprisonment of 5 months;
• For a company – the maximum fine applicable is $250,000 (Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars) with a fixed penalty of $5,000 (Five Thousand Dollars).
If you are unaware of any procedures in place to contain the spread of Asian Subterranean Termite and to avoid hefty penalties, it is suggested that you contact the nearest BAF office for assistance. People are urged to act responsibly and when unsure, contact any nearest BAF office for clarification and assistance.