Samoa Quarantine Improvement Project Emergency Response Plan

Abstract

As we experienced with the Taro Leaf Blight outbreak in the 1990s, the introduction of exotic pests or diseases into Samoa can have disasterous effects on our people and on our economy. We learned much from the Taro Leaf Blight outbreak, not the least being that it is important that we are better prepared to managed such an exotic pest incursion to prevent it spreading, and to eradicate it before it has time to become established anywhere on our islands. The Emergency Response Plan outlined in this document has been prepared as a part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Foresty, Fisheries and Meteorology's efforts to strengthen our overall biosecurity, from our border control, to our surveillance capability, and on to our ability to respond quickly in effectively eradicating an exotic pest. This Plan is a guide for us to carry out an Emergency Response, outlining the management structures and operational steps we need to take to implement a successful eradication or control programme.