Food restrictions for travelers from Tonga to Fiji

Travellers travelling from Tonga to Fiji are now prohibited from bringing certain food products into Fiji without a permit. The Ministry of Agriculture’s quarantine department said only yams are allowed into Fiji without a permit, and passengers are limited to 2kg of kava.

“There have been several complaints from Fiji about passengers not complying with its entry policy,” senior quarantine official Peioneti Lui told Tonga Radio this week. “We urge everyone to comply with the regulations to maintain good cooperation between the two countries.”

Earlier, in an interview with Tonga Radio, Minister of Trade and Economic Development Dr. Viliami Ratu said work was underway on regional trade agreements, which included PACER Plus. “Tonga technically benefits from these agreements,” Dr. Ratu explained. “However, the stricter quarantine and biosecurity measures in New Zealand and Australia require that exported food products be thoroughly checked.”

He stressed the importance of discussing these issues at the upcoming Pacific Islands Leaders Forum to ensure Pacific nations benefit fairly from trade agreements.