30 Oct 2008

Samoa eyes NZ organics market

7:48 pm on 30 October 2008

A Samoan organisation says its biosecurity department might have found a way to open up its organics market to New Zealand.

In the past, there were problems with biosecurity and certification issues, as well as supply problems.

Samoa's Women in Business development director, Adimaimalaga Tafuna'i, says her country has developed a new system to ensure its bananas are free of bugs without compromising its organic certification.

"We didn't have a proper hot forced air treatment, we have a small one now. Being able to use that treatment and get rid of the bugs that might be on the bananas. We're hoping that that's going to be something that New Zealand biosecurity will be looking at favourably."

Adimaimalaga Tafuna'i