Wed 5 August 2009
The first trial shipment of Tongan fruit and veges for many years was airfreighted to Auckland at the end of July. The shipment passed the NZ quarantine check and is now in Auckland supermarkets/shops.
But despite progress, it leaves serious blockages that responsible players inside and outside governments need to address.
Progress includes refurbishing of the Hot-Air Treatment Facility (HTFA)) in Tonga where produce is treated for the NZ market. The refurbishment is completed.
Trials will continue over the next two months to see if the facility can work to get produce successfully and profitably (for farmers) to the NZ market says Nuku’alofa based Pousima Afreaki, chair of the Tonga New Zealand Business Association (TNZBA) and a grower.
The NZ Ministry of agriculture says the HTFA can be utilised for seven fruit fly host commodities.
These include mango, papaya, tomato, avocado, breadfruit, chilli and eggplant.
Tonga will continue to apply treatments for fruitfly as required by NZMAF quarantine. “The good news here is that there is action now to get produce exports going under the three available treatments, where there was no action one year ago” says Pousima Afeaki.
Tonga’s Prime minister, Dr Feleti Sevele is chairing an adhoc committee set up last month – which includes TNZBA - to make sure action continues to be carried out quickly to open up the three pathways for produce exports to NZ.
In addition to the heat treatment facility, new fumigation chambers are being built to fumigate watermelons - one each in Tongatapu and in Vava'u. Planned commission date is end-Sept. The chambers will allow watermelons exports to NZ to resume from October.
Dipping is the third treatment which can enable Tongan produce exports to New Zealand. There is a long-standing dipping-treatment protocol in place between NZ and Australia for Australia to dip tomatoes, watermelons and other produce for export to NZ...
NZMAF has agreed for Tonga to copy and use the same dipping protocol says Afeaki. "There are technical issues to be worked through which we hope can be resolved over the next 12 months. The advantages of dipping are many - it is faster, cheaper and less harmful to produce versus heating (hot-air) or fumigation."
Can fruit flies survive cold?
Pousima Afeaki says the guts of the matter is whether Tongan fruit flies can actually survive in NZ. The anecdotal evidence is that they cannot survive - fruit fly host-plants such as bananas, tomatoes, eggplants, chillies, watermelons, pawpaw, avocadoes, etc, were exported for many decades from Tonga to NZ so it is almost 100% certain that Tongan fruit flies did get to NZ during those years of exports. “After all those decades, no Tongan fruit flies have been found alive in NZ which indicates that they cannot survive the cold” Afeaki says.
But, there has been no scientific research to show what cold-temperatures Tongan fruit flies die at. Afeaki says the logical action is to set up a scientific trial to find the cold-temperatures the flies die at and compare with ambient NZ winter temperatures.
“If the trial proves that flies die at warmer temperatures than NZ winter temperatures (as we think they do), then the fruit-fly bio security concern disappears and we can dump the bothersome and expensive treatment systems that we are required to use!!” says this Tongan voice.
At the very least Tonga could export over the NZ winter period which is what we used to do for all those many decades – “what a fantastic prospect eh” says Afeaki, who already exports fresh coconuts and other fresh and processed produce to NZ.
TNZBA started pushing for a cold-temperature trial in 2007 but no joy yet. “We will keep pushing”, says Afeaki.
Key to Biosecurity NZ
NZ Prime minister John Key, in his July interview with the Wellington Parliamentary press gallery bureau of Asia Pacific Economic News (APEN), agreed to provide a written answer to Tongan claims that NZ quarantine was now a political rather than a technical decision.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ), commented in three sets of bullet points on Dirk Stechmann comments published in Matangitonga online.
MAFBNZ response to: “An easy step would be lifting of the ban on watermelon exports to New Zealand in 1988” was
• The importation of watermelons from Tonga is not presently banned by New Zealand.
• The interception of fruit fly B. xanthodes on watermelon consignments from Tonga in 1988 resulted in a temporary ban. Tonga MAFF and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand subsequently agreed on a work plan permitting resumption of watermelon trade from Tonga. The work plan specifies production, culling, inspection, treatment, holding, and transport conditions which must be fulfilled to ensure that defined maximum pest limits are not exceeded.
• A methyl bromide fumigation treatment of 32 g/m' for 4 h at 21- 26 degrees Celsius under normal atmospheric pressure is presently required for watermelons exported from Tonga to New Zealand. This treatment is effective against Bactrocera xanthodes.
• The last recorded export of water melons from Tonga to New Zealand occurred in 2006.
• MAFBNZ has been advised that subsequent exports of water melon have not occurred as there were not suitable fumigation facilities in Tonga to treat watermelons prior to export.
• A new treatment facility is presently under construction in Tonga, and MAFBNZ have been advised Tonga plans to resume exports in approximately three months time.
In response to what is required to enable the resumption of exports of sensitive items (fruit/vege) to New Zealand?
• Tonga MAFFF and MAFBNZ have agreed on a protocol for the importation of fruit fly host produce using High Temperature Forced Air treatment (HTFA).
• HTFA can be utilised for seven fruit fly host commodities. These include mango, papaya, tomato, avocado, breadfruit, chilli and eggplant.
• Tonga has set up a ‘Federated Farmers Association’ to co-ordinate the production of fruit fly host product in order to better utilise the HTFA facility.
• Difficulties along the export supply chain? : In order to be economic the Tonga HTFA facility requires one tonne of fruit to be processed each time it is operated. To maintain this volume will require improved agricultural extension services, better coordination of growers to maintain a consistent supply, and secure export markets. Tonga struggles to compete with larger more efficient producers in the region such as Fiji, New Caledonia, and Australia.
• Discussions have recently taken place between NZAID and Tonga MAFFF on two issues: Future ownership of the HTFA, and the requirement for additional support and/or expertise.
In response to what process(es) are/would be required to address the Tongan wish to export local produce here?
• From a bio security perspective, bi-lateral discussions are required. MAFBNZ appointed a dedicated Pacific Island Adviser in 2008 as a key contact point for Pacific Island Countries.
• From a trade perspective, liaison with other New Zealand government agencies such as The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and NZAID may assist.
Tongans and Kiwis challenged to measure up
Melino Maka, New Zealand Pacific Business Council deputy chair, chair Tongan advisory council and former advisory board member of the NZ Food Safety Authority says NZ needs to engage with the Tongans in NZ who can help both sides understand each other.
Resources should be targetted at overcoming quarantine barriers.
The quarantine issue needs urgent clarification to coincide with the mid August Pacific Islands Trade and Investment commission (PITIC) NZAID trade mission to parts of the Pacific. Some of the PITIC members express an interest in buying Tongan produce – a trade that will be in inhibited if the quarantine services don’t measure up Maka says. Quarantine-doors are being opened..
Manukau City is making its second visit to Tonga. Their first visit straight after the Nuku’alofa riots was to assist Tonga with assessment of redevelopment. This s a follow up, and is more strategic . It is interested in economic development and relationships with Manukau as a city with a large Pacific islands population. This visit arrives 8 Aug in Tonga. Len Brown, mayor of Manukau City and Gilbert Ullrich, chair of the NZPBC and head of an aluminium products company lead the visit of a team of 33, including representatives from 21 businesses and other organisations interested in doing business with Tonga.
Sustainable Pacific economic development
If Tonga is successful in convincing New Zealand to overcome quarantine barriers facing mango, papaya, tomato, avocado, breadfruit, chilli and eggplant Tongan growers and New Zealand consumers can benefit – and income and employment opportunities will boom in'Tonga.
This would be a success story for those who favour sustainable Pacific economic development policies.
By Anthony Haas, publisher, Asia Pacific Economic News, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The first trial shipment of Tongan fruit and veges for many years was airfreighted to Auckland at the end of July. The shipment passed the NZ quarantine check and is now in Auckland supermarkets/shops.
But despite progress, it leaves serious blockages that responsible players inside and outside governments need to address.
Progress includes refurbishing of the Hot-Air Treatment Facility (HTFA)) in Tonga where produce is treated for the NZ market. The refurbishment is completed.
Trials will continue over the next two months to see if the facility can work to get produce successfully and profitably (for farmers) to the NZ market says Nuku’alofa based Pousima Afreaki, chair of the Tonga New Zealand Business Association (TNZBA) and a grower.
The NZ Ministry of agriculture says the HTFA can be utilised for seven fruit fly host commodities.
These include mango, papaya, tomato, avocado, breadfruit, chilli and eggplant.
Tonga will continue to apply treatments for fruitfly as required by NZMAF quarantine. “The good news here is that there is action now to get produce exports going under the three available treatments, where there was no action one year ago” says Pousima Afeaki.
Tonga’s Prime minister, Dr Feleti Sevele is chairing an adhoc committee set up last month – which includes TNZBA - to make sure action continues to be carried out quickly to open up the three pathways for produce exports to NZ.
In addition to the heat treatment facility, new fumigation chambers are being built to fumigate watermelons - one each in Tongatapu and in Vava'u. Planned commission date is end-Sept. The chambers will allow watermelons exports to NZ to resume from October.
Dipping is the third treatment which can enable Tongan produce exports to New Zealand. There is a long-standing dipping-treatment protocol in place between NZ and Australia for Australia to dip tomatoes, watermelons and other produce for export to NZ...
NZMAF has agreed for Tonga to copy and use the same dipping protocol says Afeaki. "There are technical issues to be worked through which we hope can be resolved over the next 12 months. The advantages of dipping are many - it is faster, cheaper and less harmful to produce versus heating (hot-air) or fumigation."
Can fruit flies survive cold?
Pousima Afeaki says the guts of the matter is whether Tongan fruit flies can actually survive in NZ. The anecdotal evidence is that they cannot survive - fruit fly host-plants such as bananas, tomatoes, eggplants, chillies, watermelons, pawpaw, avocadoes, etc, were exported for many decades from Tonga to NZ so it is almost 100% certain that Tongan fruit flies did get to NZ during those years of exports. “After all those decades, no Tongan fruit flies have been found alive in NZ which indicates that they cannot survive the cold” Afeaki says.
But, there has been no scientific research to show what cold-temperatures Tongan fruit flies die at. Afeaki says the logical action is to set up a scientific trial to find the cold-temperatures the flies die at and compare with ambient NZ winter temperatures.
“If the trial proves that flies die at warmer temperatures than NZ winter temperatures (as we think they do), then the fruit-fly bio security concern disappears and we can dump the bothersome and expensive treatment systems that we are required to use!!” says this Tongan voice.
At the very least Tonga could export over the NZ winter period which is what we used to do for all those many decades – “what a fantastic prospect eh” says Afeaki, who already exports fresh coconuts and other fresh and processed produce to NZ.
TNZBA started pushing for a cold-temperature trial in 2007 but no joy yet. “We will keep pushing”, says Afeaki.
Key to Biosecurity NZ
NZ Prime minister John Key, in his July interview with the Wellington Parliamentary press gallery bureau of Asia Pacific Economic News (APEN), agreed to provide a written answer to Tongan claims that NZ quarantine was now a political rather than a technical decision.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ), commented in three sets of bullet points on Dirk Stechmann comments published in Matangitonga online.
MAFBNZ response to: “An easy step would be lifting of the ban on watermelon exports to New Zealand in 1988” was
• The importation of watermelons from Tonga is not presently banned by New Zealand.
• The interception of fruit fly B. xanthodes on watermelon consignments from Tonga in 1988 resulted in a temporary ban. Tonga MAFF and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand subsequently agreed on a work plan permitting resumption of watermelon trade from Tonga. The work plan specifies production, culling, inspection, treatment, holding, and transport conditions which must be fulfilled to ensure that defined maximum pest limits are not exceeded.
• A methyl bromide fumigation treatment of 32 g/m' for 4 h at 21- 26 degrees Celsius under normal atmospheric pressure is presently required for watermelons exported from Tonga to New Zealand. This treatment is effective against Bactrocera xanthodes.
• The last recorded export of water melons from Tonga to New Zealand occurred in 2006.
• MAFBNZ has been advised that subsequent exports of water melon have not occurred as there were not suitable fumigation facilities in Tonga to treat watermelons prior to export.
• A new treatment facility is presently under construction in Tonga, and MAFBNZ have been advised Tonga plans to resume exports in approximately three months time.
In response to what is required to enable the resumption of exports of sensitive items (fruit/vege) to New Zealand?
• Tonga MAFFF and MAFBNZ have agreed on a protocol for the importation of fruit fly host produce using High Temperature Forced Air treatment (HTFA).
• HTFA can be utilised for seven fruit fly host commodities. These include mango, papaya, tomato, avocado, breadfruit, chilli and eggplant.
• Tonga has set up a ‘Federated Farmers Association’ to co-ordinate the production of fruit fly host product in order to better utilise the HTFA facility.
• Difficulties along the export supply chain? : In order to be economic the Tonga HTFA facility requires one tonne of fruit to be processed each time it is operated. To maintain this volume will require improved agricultural extension services, better coordination of growers to maintain a consistent supply, and secure export markets. Tonga struggles to compete with larger more efficient producers in the region such as Fiji, New Caledonia, and Australia.
• Discussions have recently taken place between NZAID and Tonga MAFFF on two issues: Future ownership of the HTFA, and the requirement for additional support and/or expertise.
In response to what process(es) are/would be required to address the Tongan wish to export local produce here?
• From a bio security perspective, bi-lateral discussions are required. MAFBNZ appointed a dedicated Pacific Island Adviser in 2008 as a key contact point for Pacific Island Countries.
• From a trade perspective, liaison with other New Zealand government agencies such as The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and NZAID may assist.
Tongans and Kiwis challenged to measure up
Melino Maka, New Zealand Pacific Business Council deputy chair, chair Tongan advisory council and former advisory board member of the NZ Food Safety Authority says NZ needs to engage with the Tongans in NZ who can help both sides understand each other.
Resources should be targetted at overcoming quarantine barriers.
The quarantine issue needs urgent clarification to coincide with the mid August Pacific Islands Trade and Investment commission (PITIC) NZAID trade mission to parts of the Pacific. Some of the PITIC members express an interest in buying Tongan produce – a trade that will be in inhibited if the quarantine services don’t measure up Maka says. Quarantine-doors are being opened..
Manukau City is making its second visit to Tonga. Their first visit straight after the Nuku’alofa riots was to assist Tonga with assessment of redevelopment. This s a follow up, and is more strategic . It is interested in economic development and relationships with Manukau as a city with a large Pacific islands population. This visit arrives 8 Aug in Tonga. Len Brown, mayor of Manukau City and Gilbert Ullrich, chair of the NZPBC and head of an aluminium products company lead the visit of a team of 33, including representatives from 21 businesses and other organisations interested in doing business with Tonga.
Sustainable Pacific economic development
If Tonga is successful in convincing New Zealand to overcome quarantine barriers facing mango, papaya, tomato, avocado, breadfruit, chilli and eggplant Tongan growers and New Zealand consumers can benefit – and income and employment opportunities will boom in'Tonga.
This would be a success story for those who favour sustainable Pacific economic development policies.
By Anthony Haas, publisher, Asia Pacific Economic News, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it