Policy to keep tabs on illegal products

THE National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (Naqia) has set a new policy to closely monitor international trade and stop illegal products entering the country to protect the agricultural commodities.
Naqia managing director Joel Alu said the national biosecurity policy would guide the agriculture sector to introduce laws to protect livestock and cash crop from pests and diseases and international trade.
“This new policy will help us and our partners such as Transport Industry, Customs, Finance Department, Independent Consumer and Competition Commission and others to address a lot of cross-cutting issues in the sector,” he said.
“It is the workable plan for Naqia and agriculture sector to mobilise and create laws to protect our agricultural commodities from being impacted with diseases and trade in the country.
“Our primary responsibility is to facilitate trade and ensure the diseases for plants and animals should not enter the country.”
Alu said some of the illegal products and items sold in shops was the result of no proper instrument to regulate and monitor trades.