mats

Vanuatu’s Biosecurity negotiated the breakthrough with New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries with assistance from the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Programme.

The agreement means that Phytosanitary Certificates confirming the absence of live insects are no longer required for items smaller than two metres.

The authority was able to reach an agreement with NZ thanks to assistance from the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Programme.

Throughout the Pacific, woven mats and tapa cloths are used for social, ceremonial and decorative purposes. These handicrafts are often bought by tourists as a cultural memento of the Pacific Country they visited.

These handicrafts are often bought by tourists as a cultural memento of the Pacific Country they visited.

Irrespective of size, woven mats and tapa cloths are permitted into New Zealand. However, up until recently, a requirement for these goods to be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate verifying the absence of live insects and other materials of quarantine concern. This requirement attracts additional costs which have discouraged tourists from purchasing these handicrafts.