Overseas import risk assessments in PNG concludes
The Fijian delegation currently in Papua New Guinea over trade dispute has completed the Overseas Import Risk Assessments (OVIRA).
OVIRA is a critical biosecurity requirement under the Fijian Biosecurity Promulgation 2008. These assessments have been conducted on the Ox & Palm corned beef, Trukai Ruce and Lae Biscuits. Fiji’s Trade Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Navitalai Tuivuniwai, confirming this said they will now await Biosecurity Authority of Fiji to finalise the report. He said a decision on the imports of the disputed products will be made once the report has been finalised. Overall, Mr Tuivuniwai described the talks with the Papua New Guinea Minister for Trade, Richard Maru, had been quite positive. “The delegation has been well received and accorded highest level of assistance and cooperation,” he said. “This has come from the PNG government, National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) and the associated manufacturers to undertake the relevant assessments. “The team will present a detailed report to government upon its return.” A Fijian Trade delegation including the Fiji’s Trade Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and officials from the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji is in PNG this week. They held meetings with relevant authorities and manufacturers in Port Moresby and Lae in efforts to resolve the current trade impasse between the two countries.