Passengers traveling from Tonga to Fiji are now prohibited from carrying certain food items without a permit. The Ministry of Agriculture’s quarantine division said that only yams are allowed into Fiji without a permit, and passengers are limited to carrying 2 kilograms of kava.
Senior quarantine officer Peioneti Lui, speaking to Radio Tonga this week said that, “There have been numerous complaints from Fiji about passengers not adhering to their import policies. We urge everyone to comply with these regulations to maintain good cooperation between our two countries.”
In an earlier interview with Radio Tonga, Minister of Trade and Economic Development, Dr. Viliami Latu, said that there is ongoing work on regional trade agreements, including PACER Plus. “Tonga benefits technically from these agreements,” Dr. Latu explained. “However, stricter quarantine and biosecurity measures by New Zealand and Australia necessitate thorough inspections of exported food items.”
He emphasised the importance of discussing these issues at the upcoming Pacific Islands Leaders’ Forum to ensure that Pacific countries can benefit equitably from trade agreements.