CNMI eyes less restrictions on FSM food exports

Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Jack Tenorio has assured the Federated States of Micronesia government the CNMI will immediately look into easing its Quarantine restriction order on food items exported out of FSM states unaffected by the recent vibrio cholera outbreak.

FSM officials, during a formal dialogue between CNMI and Guam public health and environment officials last week, has disclosed that its own quarantine division has taken extra steps to beef up inspection to contain the spread of bacteria in the state of Pohnpei.

“Fortunately, Pohnpei has done quite a bit of work to try to control and contain the cholera. At the same time, it is quite fortunate that Yap, Kosrae, and other states are not infected with the bacteria, we’ve learned,” Dr. Tenorio said.

“So what we’re trying to do is isolate just Pohnpei and make sure that materials coming out from this area are properly inspected before they enter the CNMI or Guam,” he added.
But a representative from the Pohnpei cholera task force has reported the epidemic is now under control.

Authorities are currently working on instituting preliminary measures to require Pohnpei quarantine inspectors to produce a special certification guaranteeing that the exported foods are free from harmful bacteria.

Dr. Tenorio said health officials are mainly concerned on seafood (crabs, shellfish) and unprocessed food items that are brought into the Northern Marianas for personal consumption.

“Probably exporters may have just bought them from the market or have it in their own home and they don’t process it. The tendency is, if they prepare it themselves and bring it for their own consumption, packed with their personal belongings, inspectors are sometimes not able to properly scrutinize it,” the secretary explained.

The meeting between FSM, Guam, and CNMI officials also dwelled on the various impacts brought on by the emergency quarantine order on food items to FSM businesses and exporters since its imposition last June.

Dr. Tenorio and Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez have been tasked by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to conduct talks with officials from Guam and FSM upon the FSM government’s request.

“We got the feedback that our quarantine order is somewhat too overwhelming. Many complained that it prevented a lot of FSM food materials to enter the CNMI,” said Dr. Tenorio.

Dr. Tenorio added DLNR is set to issue a follow-up quarantine order that will tailor restrictions based on what has already been declared as “contained” cholera epidemic situation in the state of Pohnpei.

“After outlining the impacts, we talked about how we can adjust our restrictions to be more relevant to specific issues and the specific type of food given the conditions on the quality of food that will be imported over here,” said the secretary.

Dr. Tenorio will be revisiting issues discussed at last week’s meeting with the health secretary to formulate concrete actions plans in accordance with the situation at hand.

“We will try to tailor our restrictions on our quarantine order based on the present condition in FSM,” the secretary reiterated. (MM)