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Ethnic Communications

 

  

Advocacy on market access

The Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission has existed since 1988 with the primary objective of providing incountry support in New Zealand for Forum initiatives in export development, investment, tourism and trade generally. Specifically, the Commission assists Forum Island Countries (FICs) as well as the French Territories of French Polynesia and New Caledonia with the development of exports, promotion of foreign investment and tourism and cost effective import procurement in the context of the New Zealand market.

The Commission, in its efforts to safeguard and/or improve market access for FICs, is now increasingly getting involved in advocacy work, says Mr Parmesh Chand, the Trade Commissioner. Much of this involves direct liaison with Government bodies in New Zealand such as New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFA), Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), MAF Bio-Security and New Zealand Health etc.

New Zealand, on an ongoing basis, revises and updates its Import Health Regulations and Standards taking into account its domestic situation and internationally acceptable principles. Importers are also getting more vigilant and asking for certifications such as GM status of either fresh or manufactured goods and whether or not such goods were made using environmentally friendly practices etc. There are also cases of false claims, where competitions and vested interest groups create unjustified fear or health scares in the minds of existing as well as potential consumers.

Examples of advocacy work the Commission has recently done are:

  • making a submission to NZFSA on scientific properties of cassava and how best it could be handled in terms of food safety. This was in response to claims that cassava has cyanide levels which could endanger human health
  • assisting in finding an interim solution to enabling resumption of corned beef imports from Fiji after Ministry of Health New Zealand had announced that it was banning such imports from Fiji due to lack of BSE surveillance and control practices in the country. This was part of New Zealand’s global approach to preventing the outbreak of BSE and related diseases
  • in collaboration with the Suva-based Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, making a submission to FSANZ on safety of kava
  • commissioning a survey and pest risk analysis of taro mites (rhizoglyphus) following its interceptions by MAF Bio-Security on taro consignments from the FICs.

The Commission has also established a Pacific Island Importers Roundtable Meeting, with the purpose of establishing a Forum for importers of Pacific Island produce. This facilitates sharing of information, raising of concerns and seeking of remedial measures wherever appropriate. The Commission also has an Associate Membership of the New Zealand Fresh Produce Importers Association. This Association provides an independent forum for the importers of fresh produce, inter-alia with the objective of improving market access for such produce into New Zealand.

Published 3rd qtr, 2003

   

 


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