Biosecurity Act enacted to help safeguard Fiji
THE Biosecurity Act 2008 (“Act”), under which the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (“BAF”) operates, has been enacted to safeguard Fiji from the entry of exotic pests and diseases affecting local plant and animal health; control their establishment and spread within Fiji; regulate the movement of animals/plants and their products that could spread quarantine pests and diseases; facilitate international cooperation and trade in respect of animal and plant health and for other related matters.
As BAF is mandated to carry out surveillance and monitoring of regulated pests and diseases in Fiji and to prevent their establishment and further spread to other parts of Fiji, BAF has declared certain areas in Fiji as a “Biosecurity Emergency Area”.
Declaring an area as a “Biosecurity Emergency Area” is a response to a Biosecurity Emergency – where there is a current incursion or suspected incursion of a regulated pest or disease in any area in Fiji, or the existence of some other biosecurity threat, which requires urgent action, whether by eradication, containment or other response.
Therefore, as of November 11, 2021, there is a Declaration of Biosecurity Emergency Areas in order to contain Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) and Bovine Brucellosis (BBR) to STOP the spread and contain Bovine Tuberculosis and Bovine Brucellosis in Fiji.
A program to eradicate BTB and BBR is undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) since the 1980s.
The Brucellosis Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign (BTEC) is a governmentrun program, operated by MOA to help reduce and eventually eradicate BTB and BBR in cattle in Fiji.
The BTEC program reduces production losses and improves cattle health whilst also reducing the zoonotic risk, as the two diseases can also cause serious health problems in humans.
The BTEC team conducts surveillance and testing of cattle using the single intradermal caudal fold tuberculin test to identify the BTB-positive cattle and also collect blood samples for carrying out indirect ELISA Tests to diagnose BBR.
Positive cattle for BTB & / BBR (reactors) are removed and slaughtered in abattoirs and the farmer are compensated under the program for BTB and BBR reactor removal.
A farm needs to obtain 3 consecutive clear tests within prescribed time frames in order to be designated a “clear” farm.
BAF continues to implement emergency declarations for both BTB and BBR in collaboration with MOA and respective stakeholders in order to provide legal support to the BTEC program and its activities conducted by MOA in the field.
1) Declaration of Biosecurity Emergency Areas for Bovine Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis)
Pursuant to Legal Notice No. 118 of 2021, the whole of Fiji is a Biosecurity Emergency Area for Bovine Tuberculosis.
Any movement of cattle and calf (ves) within Fiji is strictly prohibited unless the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji provides prior authorisation for the movement.
2) Declaration of Biosecurity Emergency Areas for Bovine Brucellosis (Brucella abortus)
Pursuant to Legal Notice No. 119 of 2021, the whole of Fiji is a Biosecurity Emergency Area for Bovine Brucellosis.
Any movement of cattle and calf (ves) within Fiji is strictly prohibited unless the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji provides prior authorisation for the movement.
It is important to note that the Legal Notices outlined above strictly restricts the movement of cattle and calf (ves) within Fiji due to the presence of Bovine Tuberculosis and Bovine Brucellosis in cattle in Fiji.
For Further Information, please contact: Biosecurity Authority of Fiji on 3312512
Animal Disease Surveillance - 5997 or email info@baf.com.
Ministry of Agriculture
- BTEC Section, Fiji Veterinary Pathology Lab complex, Koronivia - 4502851
- Ministry of Agriculture Agri Helpdesk on 338 3583 or agrihelp@govnet.gov.fj