Twenty-two officers from Biosecurity Vanuatu and one staff member from a private treatment provider have successfully completed accredited Fumigation and Treatment training delivered by the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) under the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (AFAS).
At the handover ceremony for accreditation certificates, Acting Director of Biosecurity Vanuatu, Mrs Lilly Fatdal Antfalo, said the training is essential for officers who operate, maintain, and manage treatment facilities nationwide. She highlighted that the new technical skills will strengthen the country’s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and help build capacity in a critical field.
“The technical skills our officers acquired this week will support Biosecurity Vanuatu, as the National Plant Protection Organisation, to comply with international standards and to mitigate risks associated with imports and exports,” Mrs Antfalo said. “This will ensure Vanuatu has safe and effective treatments that protect our agriculture and livestock sectors. It will also support market access negotiations for Vanuatu products and safeguard the national food system.”
Strengthening fumigation and treatment capacity is vital to ensuring staff, private operators, and partners can confidently apply consistent, safe, and internationally recognised treatment procedures such as AFAS.
BAF Team Leader and AFAS facilitator, Mr Ronald Prasad, commended Biosecurity Vanuatu for taking the step to establish fumigation chambers. He noted that BAF has conducted nearly 24 trainings across the Pacific—this being the 25th—and has accredited more than 400 fumigation officers across the region. He urged Biosecurity Vanuatu to prioritise Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), stressing the importance of protecting officers working with toxic materials.
PHAMA Plus Country Manager, Mrs Emily Tumukon, reflected on the partnership with Biosecurity Vanuatu through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity (MALFB), which began during the Fall Armyworm outbreak in 2022. PHAMA Plus has contributed more than VT6 million to support AFAS training and fumigation materials.
PACER Plus also partnered with Biosecurity Vanuatu, providing VT2.9 million in funding for training and fumigation supplies. This support aligns with PACER Plus’ commitment to strengthening SPS systems across the region, protecting plant and animal health, enhancing safe trade, and maintaining strong biosecurity frameworks.
Photo supplied.
