Govt keen to maintain vanilla quality: Minister

AGRICULTURE and Livestock Minister John Simon says the Government is determined to maintain the high quality of PNG vanilla.
He was referring to a recent international report which, while crediting PNG vanilla and its uses in the food industry, raised concerns on the status of vanilla in the country and overseas.
Simon, while acknowledging the report as factual bearing in mind the number of issues being faced by vanilla growers, said the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) had full confidence in the concerned authority in charge of this major income generating spice.
He said PNG was similarly faced with other major issues such as the lack, if not the absence, of appropriate measures towards biosecurity and of course security measures which would discourage illegal smuggling of vanilla through the PNG-Indonesia border.
Simon noted that the PNG Spice Board was looking into regulations and policies which were aimed at improving progress of this lucrative crop both in the food services sector and extraction market.
He said these strategies also took into consideration the matter of absence of competition in the PNG vanilla market adding that there were already measures being taken to identify issues that may have been the cause of discouragement for many exporters both on a large and small scale base.
Simon noted that there were no restrictions on any Papua New Guineans accessing and or acquiring export licences.
“Anyone can have an export license, however, it is up to them to use it wisely,” he said.
Simon said his office was aware of the dominance of one company in the local market but this did not stop any exporter, whether on a small or large scale basis, entering the market.
He said his office was now looking to ensure the PNG Spice Board reviewed conditions surrounding export licences.
Meanwhile, Spice Board chief executive Michael Waisime said there were about 40 registered exporters in PNG with 70 per cent of these exporters being from East Sepik.
He said at the moment, Intec Vanilla Niugini was the dominant exporter in the market.