Imported Fish and Fishery Products Directive

Food Sanitation Imported fish and Fishery Products DIRECTIVE Imported Fish and Fishery Products Directive In the interest of national food safety, quality, control and security, I the Hon. Michael Malabag, MP, Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS by virtue of Section 9, Subsection 1 (b) of the Food Sanitation Act hereby prescribed under this Directive that the provision of quality standards for the importation, storage, transportation and processing of fish and fishery products for domestic consumption (locally made and imported) and export must be in accordance with the Food Sanitation Act [1991], Food Sanitation Regulations (2007) and PNG Standards for Fish for Fishery Products 2009 [PNGSFFP]. This Directive addresses the following; i. Food Safety and Sanitation for imported fish and fishery products; ii. Fish Traceability relating to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fish products entering into PNG market. With regard to the national food safety policy, the legal basis for the Directive draws from the above domestic laws and mandatory standards of PNG which determines the Acceptable Level of Risks hence defining the Appropriate Level of Protection for all its citizens and residents and for the purpose of demonstrating best practice. This Directive is also consistent with the applicable WTO measures and other applicable trade related regulations thereby facilitating trade with all food exporting countries. Application of the Imported Fish and Fishery Products Directive 1. All imported Fish and Fishery Products shall be subjected to import risk assessments by the Department of Health through the Food Sanitation Council (FSC), and shall take lead in collaboration with the National Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Authority (NAQIA), and National Fisheries Authority (NFA). 2. This directive does not apply retrospectively to Fish and Fishery Products for which a permit to Import was issued and was shipped prior to this date and currently in transit. 3. A valid agricultural quarantine import and health permit must be obtained for all imports from all countries, without exception. 4. Post arrival requirements shall include compliance with the Food Sanitation Act 1991, the Food Sanitation Regulation 2007, the Food Safety Code PNGS 1696 of 2003 and the PNG standard for Fish and Fishery Products PNGFFS 1710 of 2009 or approved equivalent. 5. All imported fish and fishery products either (a) identified as high risk under the import risk assessment or (b) entering the country in either and uncooked, unprocessed or canned state will be submitted for inspection through the red lane under the PNG Customs monitoring regime. Product will only be released after examination, inspection or analysis based on country of origin, source, known history of product, and intended purposes, as well as any further criteria established by an import risk assessment. Enforcement of the Imported Fish and Fishery Products Directive The enforcement of the imported fish and fishery products directive will be collaboratively executed by the National Department of Health through the Food Sanitation Council, the National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority and the National Fisheries Authority as the competent authorities and the regulatory bodies for all such matters. Under this arrangement, the delegation of powers for the operational officers from these authorities at the Border Inspection (BIP) will allow the authorities to conduct such undertaking based on delegated powers as mandated under the relevant domestic laws and administrative arrangements. The enforcement of the imported food control system will officially commence after the date of this directive and or on the date of publication. The directive will be reviewed annually, unless required by the Minister to be reviewed earlier. All in-country importing companies for all fish and fishery products must contact the Department of Health and National Agriculture and Quarantine Authority for any queries related to this Directive. FOOD SANITATION COUNCIL National Agriculture Quarantine & Inspection Authority, P. O Box 807 P.O Box 741, Waigani Port Moresby, National Capital District, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea. Telephone: (+675) 301 3704 / 301 2700 Telephone: (+675) 311 2100 / 7100 3391 Contact Person: Aaron Gwamatae Fax: (+675) 325 1673 / 325 1674 Mobile: (+675) 7016 8867 Contact Person: Alphonse K. Bannick Email: aaron gwamate@health.gov.pg Mobile: (+675) 7100 2901 7291 6426 Email: abannick@naqia.gov.pg /akbannick@gmail.gov.pg Hon. Michael Malabag, OBE, MP, Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS MINISTRY OF HEALTH & HIV/ AIDS OFFICE OF THE MINISTER Hon. Michael Malabag, OBE, MP