Fake bilum, meri blouses on ban list

Ministry for Commerce and Industry is giving shopowners until the end of the month to remove all counterfeit bilum and meri blouses from the shelves.
This is in line with a call made by Minister Wera Mori to ban the import of counterfeit bilum, meri blouses and other products associated with Papua New Guinea culture.
Mori said this was to protect the interest of mothers and small to medium businessowners who were weaving bilum and sewing meri blouses.
“Papua New Guinean mothers weave bilums and sew meri blouses to sell and make money for school fees and other necessities,” he said.
“The Government cannot turn a blind eye to what is happening.”
The Investment Promotion Authority Act 1992 administered by Investment Promotion Authority indicates under the Cottage Business Activities List (CBAL), that bilum weaving is a reserved activity.
A definition of hand woven bilum under CBAL refers to the making of string bags (bilum) from traditional bush ropes and cottons, taking traditional and contemporary designs that are saleable at home, street markets or retail outlets.
“Bilum-weaving is a reserved activity and a foreign enterprise is not allowed to produce handwoven bilums,” Mori said.
“Foreigners are taking over all reserved businesses that are meant for indigenous Papua New Guineans.”
He said shopowners were not at fault for selling counterfeit products.
“If they were told in the beginning that this is wrong, they would not manufacture and import counterfeit products,” Mori said.
“The onus is on the relevant authorities – IPA and Customs – to enforce this ban before they import the products.”
Mori said in that way, other shopowners who were also engaged in the same activity would stop.
He said that at end of the month, police would physically remove counterfeit products from shops.