BY MELISHA YAFOI and ZEBEDEE GIAME

Poultry Industry Association (PIA) president Chris Prestwood says authorities are faced with the daunting task of identifying these illegally imported frozen goods.
This is if reports that they have received, that the orginal packaging on these goods, in which they were brought in have been swapped, are true.
Mr Prestwood said the association is yet to verify the information but asserted that they had been reliably informed that about four container loads of this illegal import were landed in Port Moresby a week ago.
“We are told there are some supermarkets and distributors in Port Moresby are behind this and we are keen to identify how this has happened,” Mr Prestwood said.
He said they are already in talks with the National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority (NAQIA) as to how they can assist them to get to the bottom of this issue, which yet again poses a threat to the country’s K900million industry.
“At this stage what we want to work with NAQIA to get clarity and how we can assist.
“We have helped them with the review for the border protection as a way forward,” he said.
Zenag General Manager Stanley Leahy said “We hope the public will assist by reporting any illegal poultry products to the relevant authorities.”
“This is an important national issue for PNG. There is a lot at stake for PNG farmers and wildlife.”
NAQIA’s managing director Joe Alu said the state agency understands that there is an issue in relation to import of fresh poultry from Malaysia.
He said he is aware of the concerns that have been raised both by PIA and the respective chambers of commerce and industry.
“We will officially respond soon. Our scientists, and the chief Veterinarian health officer and the chief quarantine officer are working on this and it will be managed.
President for Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry Alan Mclay said this threat has been raised in the country before and while measures have been put in place to protect the industry these continue to be bypassed.
He said it’s a challenge now for the industry to properly screen where the major importation of poultry is coming in from.
“There are countries within the region that are known to have had their poultry being attacked by this threat so our country’s poultry industry and key retailers and other importers have to be mindful of where they are getting their chicken from,” he added.