NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga – Tonga's ability to protect its people, environment, and trade is set to strengthen with the official handover of vital biosecurity and quarantine equipment funded by the PACER Plus trade agreement's Development and Economic Cooperation (DEC) Work Program.

The new tools -- valued at AU$185,350 or TOP$288,003 -- are designed to enhance Tonga's sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems and include a digitised Quarantine Management Information System with IT infrastructure, a state-of-the-art fumigation chamber, protective gear, inspection tools, and an incinerator to safely manage imports and exports.

Tonga's Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forests, Hon. Siosiua Moala Halavatau (left) and the Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, Mr. Roy Lagolago signs the Contribution Agreement during the official handover in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.

This equipment will help Tonga meet international SPS standards, ensuring continued and expanded access to key export markets such as Australia and New Zealand.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forests, Hon. Siosiua Moala Halavatau, welcomed the handover, describing it as a step forward for Tonga's agricultural and trade sectors.

"This is not just a handover of tools. It's a handover of confidence for our farmers, for our exporters, and for our consumers. Tonga is committed to meeting the highest international standards for food safety and plant and animal health. With this support from PACER Plus, we are better equipped to ensure the quality and safety of our exports, protect our environment, and grow our economy," said Hon. Halavatau.

Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), Mr. Roy Lagolago, praised the collaborative nature of the initiative.

"The PPIU is proud to partner with PHAMA Plus in delivering the fumigation chamber, an important piece of infrastructure that will directly benefit Tongan exporters. This partnership recognises the work that PHAMA Plus is already doing in Tonga and also avoids duplication of efforts and resources. The PHAMA Plus work in facilitating market access for Pacific produce to Australia and New Zealand is important and is a conduit for increased trade under PACER Plus," said Mr. Lagolago.

Tonga's Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forests, Hon. Siosiua Moala Halavatau (left) with the Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, Mr. Roy Lagolago at the official handover in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.

Tongan exporters, many of whom face strict market access requirements, say the equipment couldn't come at a better time.

"Our work involves exporting watermelon to New Zealand. Previously, we faced significant challenges with fumigation, often having to collaborate with another exporter for this process. This new equipment is a considerable asset because its large fumigation chamber will greatly expedite the fumigation process, making our work much more efficient," said Ms. Seini Tu'ivai, Senior Assistant Secretary for the Exporter Division at Tonga's Ministry of Trade and Economic Development.

The handover forms part of PACER Plus's mission to build sustainable capacity across the region, ensuring Pacific Island countries are not only connected to markets but also equipped to meet the standards and seize the opportunities that come with it.

-ENDS-

To download images, click here and here.