DLNR relaxes ban on FSM food exports By Marian A. Maraya

The Department of Lands and Natural Resources has issued anew an emergency order of quarantine which now allows entry of all fish, shellfish and crustaceans that originate from the Federated States of Micronesia.

But under the new order, these food items will only be allowed into the Northern Marianas provided they are frozen in an ice chest or cooler packed with ice from the port of embarkation.

DLNR acting Secretary Eugene A. Santos, however, underscored the need to exercise utmost care in granting CNMI entry to the shipments coming in from FSM especially on crustaceans such as lobsters and crabs.

“But for pelagic fishes such as tuna…it’s no problem. We just need to enforce caution on the shipping of crustaceans,” said Mr. Santos.
The acting secretary signed the new order Tuesday after conferring with Department of Public Health’s David Rosario.

Since Aug. 7, two versions of the emergency order have been issued which both ruled out an entire item, stating that “the CNMI Agriculture Quarantine may take samples of fish, shellfish, and crustaceans which originate in the States of Chuuk, Kosrae, or Yap. Immediately upon the taking of any such sample, the Bureau of Environmental Health shall be asked to retrieve the sample and submit it for testing for the presence of vibrio cholera at the Commonwealth Health Center Laboratory and/or Guam Public Health.”

“As you can see, we have become more lax. The secretary will be arriving tomorrow so we are going to discus more on that…and on the actual lifting. We are also monitoring the situation in Pohnpei and once we establish that the cholera is very minimal or if they find out that its not existent, there’s no use to have that quarantine order.

“My personal concern is the public’s health. This is the only thing we can do — to impose some regulations that will restrict some products that might affect the welfare of the community,” said Mr. Santos.

Just last week, Dr. Tenorio had assured the public the FSM food ban may be lifted soon after receiving reports from a Pohnpei cholera task force that the epidemic is already under control.

Dr. Tenorio, along with Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez, held talks with the FSM and Guam governments, recently to discuss the impact of the cholera epidemic as well as formulate plan of actions to prevent the spread of the dreaded disease.

FSM’s quarantine division has reportedly taken extra steps to beef up inspection in order to contain the spread of bacteria.