The Papua New Guinea Government must be advised of the circulation of imported canned tuna in PNG that is unfit for human consumption.
The imported canned tuna with foreign meat content have been sold in the open market. This was revealed after the signing of a memorandum of agrement between PNG Customs and the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) Thursday.
This agreement will boost border protection to curb illegal imports like the canned tuna that evade border authorities and enter the country.
NFA managing director Sylvester Pokajam said this canned tuna was imported from a country in the Asian region which was specifically to be consumed by domestic animals like cats and dogs.
Pokajam outlined that this significant signing would pave the way for this two very important government institutions in a joint partnership to pursue government business.
Customs Commissioner Ray Paul said the agreement signing is long overdue and it would now pave the way for critical border security as stated in the mission of the organisation to protect the border, allow for legitimate trade and collect revenue in PNG Exclusive Economic Zone.
Paul said this partnership would also enable the two organisations to work hand in hand to stop illegal fishing in the PNG waters and other criminal activities that have been ongoing in the waters of PNG. He said PNG Customs was happy to work with NFA who had been helping the communities with grants to develop their local fisheries.
Paul also said this joint operation would enforce security as well as socio-economic development in the country to curb illegal trading that had existed in the past.
Pokajam also said that with the MoU PNG customs could use their technology and human resource to clear all import goods that come into the country and impound those that were dangerous or suspicious in nature.
