Photo credit: Papua New Guinea Today
The National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority has launched its 10-year biosecurity policy 2022-2032, the first for the authority and the country since Independence.
The policy will put an emphasis on easing trade inside the nation while also addressing the problems and difficulties the nation faces in preserving and conserving its distinctive biodiversity and allowing for the import of commodities.
The policy, according to Joel Alu, general director of NAQIA, is a springboard for NAQIA and the agricultural industry to mobilise and adopt regulations to protect agricultural products for international trade as well as to protect agricultural products from disease and pets in this country.
“From the policy, we are going to launch the bill, we will derive the bill from this policy, we will draft the law and that law will help guide how we want to conduct trade in this country.
“NAQIA does not have the tooth to bite and this policy allows us to develop that tooth to bite,” he said.
John Simon, the minister of agriculture and livestock, who was present for the policy's introduction, urged NAQIA to give the Biosecurity Act and its necessary rules more attention.
“A good policy is supported by legislation and a good set of regulations with the requirements, and financial resources,” he said.
The main goals of PNG's biosecurity policy are to develop a framework for safeguarding livelihoods, the environment, and agriculture, as well as to promote both internal and foreign trade.
Targeting imports and transit routes for the pre-border, border, and post-border stages to prevent the entry and spread of pests; defending and enhancing agricultural production and productivity in PNG; market access and export certification, which involves assisting export market opportunities for PNG agriculture products
The policy is further supported by cross-cutting blocks, which include components that apply to the complete biosecurity framework and cut across them, such as the infrastructure required to support the aforementioned pillars,
Reference: Wohi, Lorraine. Post-Courier (27 June 2022). “NAQIA Launches Biosecurity Policy”.
