State pays K200,000 for testing tuna samples

 THE state pays more than K200,000 annually to test tuna samples in overseas laboratories, National Fisheries Authority acting managing director Philip Polon said.

He said the samples were sent to Singapore, Australia and New Zealand for analysis to verify official controls as per the European United (EU) requirements here in the country.

“This year alone it has cost NFA K262,000 and increasing and I hope with the announcement of the accreditation of chemical, we will continue to work and progress on other chemical perimeters.” 

RD Tuna Canners Ltd managing director and fishing industry association PNG Inc chairmen Pedro Celso said: “This is good news not only for our company but for the entire industry. Each of the operators can do his own respective histamine tests.”

Celso said the requirement of EU and other buyers is for an independent testing laboratory to do the testing separately to accompany the certification.

 “This can hasten the prompt release of the independent test results as we do not have to send all those samples abroad. 

“In the past all players have to utilise the services of other service providers (who should be an accredited agency of the EU) located in Australia or Singapore, thus not only making the exercise a bit more expensive not to mention the length of time to do it.”

The European seafood market is the most lucrative market for countries relying on the fishing industry.