3.75.  There have been no changes to the institutional and regulatory framework for the protection of human, animal, and plant life and health in Solomon Islands since its last Review. SPS-related laws and regulations are the Biosecurity Act 2013 and the 2015 Biosecurity Regulations, and the Pure Food Act of 1996[141] and its implementing regulations (Pure Food (Food Control) Regulations 2010).[142] The Pure Food (Food Control) Regulations have provisions on, inter alia, food additives and nutrition supplements; packaging and apparatus; labelling, advertising, and date marking; incidental constituents; good hygienic practices; and commodity standards

3.76.  Biosecurity Solomon Islands (BSI) has responsibility for managing the biosecurity risks related to the movement of goods and people in and out of the country.[143] The Ministry of Health and Medical Services continues to ensure that imported foods meet the requirements of the Pure Food Act and the Environmental Health Act

3.77.  As at the time of its previous Review, Solomon Islands is a member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and is a signatory to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It is not a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE). The Pacific Community, of which Solomon Islands is a member, has a unit to support biosecurity around the region. The Unit has provided support in securing project funding at the national level and has assisted Solomon Islands in reviewing IPPC standards and in areas of emergency response. As indicated by the authorities, the Pacific Community Pacific Plant Protection Organization, which meets once per year, is working towards regional harmonization of standards

3.78.  As indicated by the authorities, SPS measures are set out in the Import Specification Manual and its schedules.[144] In the context of this Review, the authorities indicate that Solomon Islands uses international standards to the greatest possible extent. Where there are requests from importers to import low‑risk products for which there are no measures contained in the manual, desk-top risk assessments are conducted by BSI, the costs of which are borne by the Government. Any supplementary costs relating to filling information gaps or visiting the facilities in the exporting country are paid by the importer. Apparently, there is demand for only one or two risk assessments per year. For imports that are not low-risk, Australian or New Zealand standards are used. Solomon Islands has made no SPS-related notifications to the WTO

3.79.  The importation of certain plants is prohibited for SPS reasons.[145] According to the authorities, there is also a prohibited list for animals and animal products, which relates to countries that have tested positive for certain animal diseases.[146] They indicated that prohibitions are based on information from the responsible international organizations

3.80.  Import permits are required for most animals and animal products and plants and plant products. Exceptions apply to certain commercially produced packets of processed food products with ingredients of animal origin, labelled as being produced in Australia and New Zealand[147], and dairy products from Australia and New Zealand.[148] Import permits for animals and animal products may either be single (valid for one month from the date of issue) or multiple entry (valid until 30 June each year)

3.81.  Sanitary certificates must be provided for all animal and animal products, phytosanitary certificates for all plant and plant products, and processed food products must be accompanied by a health certificate. Solomon Islands is implementing the IPPC ePhyto (electronic phytosanitary) certificate solution and is now exchanging phytosanitary certificates with other countries that are implementing the system

3.82.  As set out in the Biosecurity Act, all imports of regulated goods are liable for biosecurity import clearance inspections by biosecurity officers and must enter the country through the Honiara Port. The authorities indicate that when a new product is imported, samples of the product are tested either in the country (Solomon Islands has facilities to test for water quality and some pests) or by sending samples abroad for testing (e.g. for testing of pesticide residues or bacterial contamination). The authorities indicate that all animal quarantine requirements are fulfilled in Australia, and release is immediate upon arrival. Exporters of plants and animals and their products must apply for a biosecurity export clearance prior to export.[149]

3.83.  All fees levied by BSI for its services (including issuance of permits, inspections, assessments and audits, quarantine, etc.) are listed in Schedule 17 to the Biosecurity Regulations 2015 and are publicly available on BSI's website.[150]

3.84.  According to the authorities, industry has been calling for greater import facilitation measures to be put in place. In this context, the authorities indicate that there are plans to give BSI access to the ASYCUDA system, which it does not presently have. This will enable BSI to check documentation in advance and speed up customs clearance at entry ports

3.85.  According to the authorities, measures to improve Solomon Islands' SPS capacity include the Biosecurity Development Program, supported by the Australian Government, which has provided support/funding for training and capacity-building, including on inspections and legislation as well as sending staff on attachment to Australia. Solomon Islands has also received support from the FAO on fall armyworm surveillance. In 2024, a post-entry quarantine facility at Solomon Islands National University of Fisheries Studies was inaugurated; this is part of an initiative to enable imports of tilapia from Malaysia and thereby develop the aquaculture sector. As indicated by the authorities, once the tilapias are certified as disease-free, they will be moved to a breeding facility, which is currently under construction.[151] A National Public Health laboratory has been built and is used for testing food and water. A vapour treatment facility is being built with support from Japan and once completed, should enable Solomon Islands to export fresh fruit and vegetables

3.86.  The main SPS-related challenges with respect to pest incursions over the review period included controlling the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle and the Asian subterranean termite. The former was first detected in the country in 2015 and poses a threat to the country's coconut industry[152], while the termite affects buildings and live trees. Information was not available on the impact of these pest incursions on trade

3.87.  As indicated by the authorities, other SPS-related challenges concern capacity constraints, particularly on the animal side. For example, they noted that at mid-2024, there was only one qualified vet for the entire country. The authorities indicate that among the country's most important needs in the SPS area with respect to capacity to trade include support to do risk assessments; developing the laboratory and human capacity to support pest and disease identification; and technical assistance to ensure BSI is able to keep up to date with trading partners' new requirements

3.88.  The authorities indicate that Solomon Islands does not allow the importation of GMO products given the absence of technical skills in this area and an inability to undertake monitoring; this prohibition is done through risk assessment. There is no legislation in this area

3.68.  As at the time of its previous Review, Solomon Islands has a very limited institutional and legal framework to set and enforce standards and technical regulations and undertake conformity assessments.[129] It has neither designated an entity responsible for answering enquiries about technical regulations, conformity assessments, and standards, nor has it made any notifications under the TBT Agreement. As indicated in the National Development Strategy 2016-2035 (Section 1.2 ), Solomon Islands is cognisant of the importance of developing weights and measures regulations and quality standards in the context of reducing business costs and developing a predictable regulatory framework.[130] To this end, Solomon Islands has developed a National Quality Infrastructure Policy, with the assistance of USAID, which covers metrology, standardization, accreditation, and conformity assessment. As of mid-2024, it had not yet been submitted to the Cabinet for approval

3.69.  The Consumer Affairs and Price Control Division within the MCILI has responsibility for metrology-related issues; the governing law is the Weights and Measures Act.[131] According to the authorities, the Act is out of date and assistance is being sought to review the legal and regulatory framework. Solomon Islands does not have a weights and measures laboratory

3.70.  A Pacific Quality Infrastructure Initiative was established in 2017 by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) (Section 2.3.3 ), with the objective of pooling members' resources and expertise to achieve shared priorities. Technical committees have been established in the areas of food and food products, building and construction, and metrology. According to the authorities, work is being undertaken to develop regional standards on frozen cassava and building standards. Training and information‑sharing activities have been undertaken under this initiative and some equipment including weights and scales has been provided. In 2020, PIF Trade Ministers endorsed a medium‑term framework for quality infrastructure regional actions.[132]

3.71.  As at the time of Solomon Islands' previous Review, there is no centralized standardizing body and no concrete projects to create one. Standards (i.e. voluntary standards) continue to be adopted and administered by various government agencies and ministries. Neither a comprehensive list of all entities involved in adopting and administering standards nor a list of standards being applied was available

3.72.  As indicated in Solomon Islands' previous Review, technical regulations (i.e. mandatory standards) and conformity assessment procedures may be embodied in laws or subsidiary legislation. The administrative procedure for their adoption is described in the previous Review.[133] The MCILI has authority to adopt technical regulations under the Consumer Protection Act.[134] A list of other ministries/agencies in charge of adopting technical regulations in other areas was not available. In the context of this Review, the authorities expressed concern that the absence of technical regulations may be leading to substandard products being allowed enter the market

3.73.  There is no inventory of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures. The following technical regulations have been identified in the context of this (and previous) Review(s): · Brandy, whisky, and rum. Governing legislation: Customs and Excise Act. Brandy and whisky must have been matured by storage in wood for not less than three years; rum for not less than two years. Information was not available on how conformity is assessed. · Electrical products. Governing legislation: Consumer Protection Act and Consumer Protection (Approved Standards for Restricted Electrical Products) Regulations 2016.[135] Products must meet the standards for minimum energy performance and energy testing as described in the regulations. Import permits are required for these products, which are administered by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and granted by Customs (Section 3.1.5.1.1 ). Customs checks conformity at the border. · Food products. Governing legislation: Pure Food Act (1996) and Pure Food Fish and Fishery Regulations of 2005 and Pure Food Control Regulations of 2010.[136] The regulations set out microbiological and chemical standards. According to the authorities, a fully-fledged import control system is not yet in place

3.74.  According to the authorities, a product packaging and labelling policy is being drafted with outside assistance. Packing and labelling requirements currently being applied are: · Cigarettes. Governing legislation: Customs and Excise Act, Schedule II.[137] Cigarettes imported in quantities of more than 200 must be contained in packages displaying a health warning. · Imported medicines. Governing legislation: Pharmacy and Poisons Act, Article 50.[138] Labels must state the percentage of proof spirit of the medicine and the proportion of poison (if any) contained in the total contents. · Food products. Governing legislation: Pure Food Act (Part III[139]), Pure Food (Fish and Fishery) Regulations of 2005 and Pure Food (Food Control) Regulations of 2010.[140] According to the authorities, labels must include name of products, nutritional data, batch number, use-by date, and address of producer. Food must be labelled in English. · Electrical products. Governing legislation: Consumer Protection Act and Consumer Protection (Approved Standards for Restricted Electrical Products) Regulations 2016. Restricted electrical products must have an energy label affixed to them