An African Swine Fever (ASF) assessment has commenced in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to evaluate the impact of ASF emergency response work in declared disease areas. In the declared disease areas, approximately 143,000 households own over 719,000 pigs, and ASF poses a significant economic and cultural threat to these communities The assessment, conducted by enumerators funded by Australia and New Zealand supported PHAMA Plus and National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection

PHAMA Plus inks ‘sweet’ deal with Gaston Chocolat CHOCOLATE exports from Vanuatu to Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States are expected to fetch premium prices following food safety certification improvements. The Australia and New Zealand funded Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus or PHAMA Plus Program has signed a partnership agreement with Vanuatu cocoa processor and exporter Gaston Chocolat to improve pre- and post-harvest handling of cocoa,