The Fiji Meat Industry Board (FMIB) has achieved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Australia certification, a milestone expected to strengthen Fiji's food safety standards, improve export readiness and support the long-term growth of the country's livestock industry.
The internationally recognised certification confirms that FMIB has implemented a comprehensive food safety management system that identifies, monitors and controls potential hazards throughout meat processing, from production to distribution.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Inosi Kuridrani congratulated the board, management and staff on the achievement, describing it as a testament to FMIB's commitment to producing safe, high-quality meat products that meet international standards.
"The HACCP certification demonstrates the Board's dedication to maintaining the highest food safety standards while ensuring consumers have confidence in locally processed meat products," Kuridrani said.
He said the certification provides a globally recognised framework for managing food safety risks, enhancing consumer confidence and improving Fiji's ability to access regional and international markets, where compliance with internationally accepted food safety standards is increasingly required.
According to Kuridrani, the certification aligns with the government's Agriculture Sector Strategic Development Plan 2024–2030, which identifies stronger food safety and biosecurity systems, modernised agricultural value chains and greater export competitiveness as key priorities for transforming Fiji's agriculture sector.
He said the recognition would not only strengthen FMIB's operations but also create broader benefits across the livestock value chain by providing farmers with reliable processing services, supporting higher-quality meat production and opening new market opportunities for locally produced livestock.
Kuridrani said the achievement would help build a more resilient, competitive and sustainable livestock industry while encouraging greater investment in domestic meat production.
The HACCP system is one of the world's most widely adopted food safety management standards and is recognised by regulators, retailers and food importers globally. Certification demonstrates that food producers have established preventive systems to identify biological, chemical and physical hazards and implement critical controls throughout processing.
For Pacific island countries such as Fiji, internationally recognised food safety certification is increasingly important as governments seek to expand agricultural exports, reduce dependence on imported food products and improve food security through stronger domestic production.
The certification is expected to enhance FMIB's credibility among domestic consumers and international buyers while supporting the government's broader objective of increasing the contribution of agriculture and agribusiness to economic growth.
