Fiji | BCH-NR2-FJ-102889 | Second National Report on the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety | Biosafety Clearing-House

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Second National Report on the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (NR2)

last updated: 05 Dec 2011
General Information


Biosecurity, Academic Institution, Department of Forestry, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of I Taukei,Ministry of Agriculture, Ministy of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health
EN

01 Oct 2007
19 Nov 2011
Party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Article 2 – General provisions
Only a draft framework exists
EN
  • Other laws, regulations or guidelines that indirectly apply to biosafety
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
Article 5 – Pharmaceuticals
No
EN
Biosecurity carry out Risk Assessment at the boarder, if there is any animal/plant found that are not internationally recognized it is destroyed. However Biosecurity do not have the facilities to detain GMOs at the boarder, therefore tools and equipments are needed to facilitate as such.<br /><br />Another point was raised who will be responsible in looking after the storage (cargos, containers) when they are unloaded at the port?<br /><br />Biosecurity emphasized also that different GMO have different containment
EN
Article 6 – Transit and Contained use
No
EN
No
EN
- Fiji Revenue &amp; Customs Authrity has a legislation on Transit<br /><br />- Biosecurity addressed that LMO is a new subject, and if received it is either destroyed or returned<br />
EN
Articles 7 to 10 – Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) and intentional introduction of LMOs into the environment
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
Yes
EN
Yes
EN
None
EN
None
EN
Less than 5
EN
Less than 5
EN
Yes, always
EN
Yes, always
EN
Yes, always
EN
In some cases only
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  • Prohibition of the import/use of the LMO(s) (100)
n/a
EN
Question 31: First Intention - importation of LMOs will require the importer to apply to Biosecurity for importation, and then Biosecurity will look for facility then decide whether to approve or disapprove<br /><br />“Is Department of Environment prepared for 1st intention introduction’’<br /><br />- Make submission to factor into the AWP all the international obligations that DOE is custodian off.<br /><br />- Structural support from the Ministry to push<br />Question 34:<br /><br /> - There are no detection strips by Biosecurity<br /><br />- DOE to actual obtain strips, that will greatly assist&nbsp; officers at the boarders<br /><br />- There no detection modes at the moment<br /><br />- Imported meat are required to have a VET certificate but does not cover GMOs: Biosecurity<br /><br />Declaration forms (Biosecurity)<br /><br />- ODS has a declaration form that were designed and discussed with traders<br /><br />- Customs do licensing and permitting to export and test<br /><br />- A licensing system is needed to make decision on what to do with the GMOs<br /><br />- A legislation should be in place before&nbsp; Risk Management/Technicality of Detections are set up<br /><br />- It was raised that the draft Biosafety Framework should be finalized as soon possible so an administration is set up and MOU to be signed and finally develop a SOP
EN
Article 11 – Procedure for living modified organisms intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing (LMOs-FFP)
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
Yes
EN
Yes
EN
None
EN
Less than 5
EN
Less than 5
EN
No
EN
No
EN
Please refer to previous questions<br /><br />- BCH : request Quarantine, information on implication of GMO corn seed<br /><br />- Emphasize the need to finalize he draft report
EN
Article 12 – Review of decision
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
None
EN
To protect, preserve and manage Fiji’s cultural heritage<br /><br />• National policy framework established (2003)<br /><br />• Existing legislation (Fiji Museum Act, Intellectual Property Rights Act) reviewed and updated (2004) Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues are of relevance to the Cartagena Protocol whereby introduction of GMOs may have potential to impact negatively on flora or fauna of cultural significance. <br /><br />Promote conservation and resource development that emphasises partnership with local landowners • Number of mataqali landowning units engaged in commercial ventures increased Depending on the GM policy adopted, landowners would need to be made aware of possible impact of commercial ventures that may involve farming or use of GMOs on their land.
EN
Article 13 – Simplified procedure
No
EN
No
EN
None
EN
Article 14 – Bilateral, regional and multilateral agreements and arrangements
No
EN
- Does not specifically address GMOs, but address other issues and not specifically on GMO
EN
Article 15 – Risk assessment
Yes
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
n/a
EN
No
EN
None
EN
n/a
EN
n/a
EN
Question 81:<br /><br />- No technical people, but there is a mechanism under BCH&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />Question 84: Risk Management Assessment (Biosecurity has a Scientific Unit), LMOs/GMOs is a new platform<br /><br />Question 85<br /><br />- It was suggested that a desk officer is at Department of Environment and when an application is received from an exporter (for LMOs /GMOs), then the desk officer send it to line ministries (expertise ) for their approval/disapproval, and the desk officer will then collect their feed backs for to make the decision of importation.<br /><br />- Biosecurity has a similar process for other issues apart from LMOs/GMOs, but the only difference is all the experts are under one roof.<br /><br />- Nacani suggested if the DEO can refer to workshops and summarise what is the status quo.<br /><br />- Problems face by Biosecurity : They have&nbsp; no tools to detect GMOs<br /><br />- Customs: they do not have experts to determine what GMOs is made off. <br /><br />Question 93 Risk Assessment – Need assistance on capacity building<br /><br />- Training of agencies to have experts<br /><br />Option: Tap on the Line ministries
EN
Article 16 – Risk management
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
Article 17 – Unintentional transboundary movements and emergency measures
Yes
EN
No
EN
No
EN
Never
EN
There is currently no existing framework under which all GMOs can be effectively controlled or regulated. However, the Environment Management Act controls the use of GMOs if there is potential risk to the environment. The draft Biosecurity Bill is expected to serve as the main legislative framework for controlling import, export and movement of GMOs in the country.
EN
Article 18 – Handling, transport, packaging and identification
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
Article 19 – Competent National Authorities and National Focal Points
Yes
EN
Yes
EN
Yes, one
EN
Yes, some information
EN
No
EN
No Clearing House established
EN
Article 20 – Information Sharing and the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH)
Information available but only partially available in the BCH
EN
Information available but only partially available in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but only partially available in the BCH
EN
Information available but only partially available in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
Information available but not in the BCH
EN
No
EN
Yes
EN
No
EN
Yes
EN
No
EN
No
EN
Article 21 – Confidential information
No
EN
No
EN
Article 22 – Capacity-building
Yes
EN
Multilateral channels
EN
No
EN
Yes
EN
No
EN
  • Development of national biosafety frameworks
  • Building Capacity for Effective Participation in the BCH (Phase I)
Yes
EN
  • Institutional capacity
  • Human resources capacity development and training
  • Public awareness, participation and education in biosafety
No
EN
Yes
EN
  • Institutional capacity
  • Human resources capacity development and training
  • Risk assessment and other scientific and technical expertise
  • Risk management
  • Public awareness, participation and education in biosafety
  • Information exchange and data management including participation in the Biosafety Clearing-House
  • Scientific, technical and institutional collaboration at subregional, regional and international levels
  • Technology transfer
  • Identification of LMOs, including their detection
  • Socio-economic considerations
  • Implementation of the documentation requirements under Article 18.2 of the Protocol
  • Handling of confidential information
  • Measures to address unintentional and/or illegal transboundary movements of LMOs
  • Scientific biosafety research relating to LMOs
  • Taking into account risks to human health
No
EN
No
EN
Article 23 – Public awareness and participation
Yes, to some extent
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
Yes, to a limited extent
EN
Yes
EN
None
EN
Article 24 – Non-Parties
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
n/a
EN
Article 25 – Illegal transboundary movements
No
EN
No
EN
Never
EN
Article 26 – Socio-economic considerations
Not applicable
EN
No
EN
Article 27 – Liability and Redress
No
EN
No
EN
Article 33 – Monitoring and reporting
No
EN
  • Lack of relevant information at the national level
  • Difficulty in compiling the information from various sectors
Other information
Comments on reporting format
Survey on indicators of the Strategic Plan (2014)
2001 or earlier
EN
This may be the funds that Customs agency may have put in for its officers training need si in the related field. Department of Environment may not have the exact information at this time which can only be provided after looking at all budget expenditures and having a discussion with National Treasury
EN
None
EN
The University ( the only regional University in Fiji for Pacific) and Fiji's National University have not identified the needs of training both acdemic and practical short courses in the related area. Therte may be some courses as part of a major program that deals with Biotechnology and Biosafety however its releven to Cartagena Protocol in not noted. The need for Fiji academic coureses in Biosafety is always there with the fact that there are no specilaized labs for risk identification because of lack of expertise and other resources besides dealing with othet important biosafety related issues. However its is very certain that Fiji's Customs and Boarder Control agencies have been adequalty exposes to national and regional / international trainsing, seminars and woprkshops that touch base on Biosafety issues in particular to do with handling and shipment of GMO's and LMO's.
EN
Yes
EN
Yes, with the help of the Department of Environment as the cordinating agency and the National Focal Point can use the 2 main Universities to conduct trainings and workshops . This may require technical assitance from SPREP and also from CBd in identifying rsource personnel for training and funding.
EN
5,000 USD or more
EN
No
EN
None
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
This is a very diffcult question to answer. As members of the Department of Environment and the National Focal Point we are not aware opf this however we believe Customs may have at some point of time undertake if not a full fledged assessment of risks for certain GMO's atleast a brief preliminary inspections and analysis. Most information with them are very confidential and can be rquested upon formal request
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
You can both for this. With the department of Environment there is nothing but we are quite sure that there may be some information. Yet again this can be cross checked if required.
EN
No
EN
None
EN
N/A
EN
Yes
EN
Yes, our Customs Department are pretty well organised however there has to be a level of cordination and organisationfrom the Department of Environment. Currently this is not being done because we are legaly not required to ..we implement others laws but we dont have anything specific for Biosafety thus this continues to be ignored.
EN
One or more
EN
One or more
EN
One or more
EN
Yes
EN
Although there are no state of the art Labs as may be required there are however labs such as the Government owned and labs with the Universities that can be used once some capacity is been raised.
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
One or more
EN
One or more
EN
No
EN
None
EN
None
EN
No
EN
No
EN
No
EN
  • 5B6177DD-5E5E-434E-8CB7-D63D67D5EBED (N/A)
None
EN
None
EN
No
EN
No
EN
One or more
EN
These are only CBD's capacity building workshops.
EN
None
EN
  • 5B6177DD-5E5E-434E-8CB7-D63D67D5EBED (N/A)
None
EN
Yes
EN
National focal Point, the Department of Environment's awarness unit
EN
No
EN
One or more
EN
There is a DVD, some information booklets and materials supplied by CBD
EN