Samoan Meat Exports to American Samoa not yet finalized

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 14 OCTOBER 2022: A group of parliamentarians from American Samoa is taking a first-hand inspection of Samoa’s cattle and poultry farms today as the two countries work towards reopening Samoa’s meat exports to the US territory.

The inspection is part of the Atoa o Samoa Executive Talks that come to a close later this afternoon.

The Chief Executive Officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture, Tilafono David Hunter told Talamua that the visit is specifically for the American Samoa parliamentarians and their agricultural sector delegation.

Tilafono is not part of the visit that is accompanied by the Assistant Chief Executive Officer for the Animal Production and Health Division, Fesilia’i Tulia Molimau-Iosefa.

“So the delegation can see first-hand and talk among themselves as they work towards allowing our meat exports,” said Tilafono.

The visit is very crucial to Samoa’s request to export local meat and eggs to American Samoa and the MPs need to be convinced while a decision depends on their recommendation to the Talks this afternoon.

The Director of the American Samoa Department of Agriculture, Leilua Solia Mutini told Talamua as they went off for the visit, that nothing has been finalized yet.

“We are still on a trial basis,” he said.

The export of local meat and eggs to the territory that is governed under US Federal legislations was one of the issues discussed on the first Atoa O Samoa Talks in American Samoa in July 2022.

This prompted a visit by Leilua and the Procurement office to visit some local cattle and poultry farms last month and ahead of this week’s meeting where a decision is expected.

A few weeks ago, a Federal press statement announced the opening of the export of Samoan turmeric to the United States.