The American Samoa Government has granted a long-term request by the Samoa Government to import meat into the US territory.
While this is now effective, there are guidelines that need to be ironed out, such as the quantity.
Governor of American Samoa Lemanu P. S. Mauga confirmed this during the press conference following the closing of the Atoa o Samoa executive talks.
American Samoa at the moment is accepting raw meat for personal use at the moment.
Lemanu also confirmed the United States Department of Agriculture already conducted its inspection of Samoa’s processes of raw meat and has given the green light.
In 2016 the USDOA put a ban on raw meat from Samoa on the basis that they do not have a USDA-certified abattoir which raises food security concerns, it was then lifted in 2019 by ASG for personal consumption and funerals, but then not long after it was banned again by the USDA.
Last month USDA approved the importation into the United States and its territories of fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome based on the findings of a pest risk analysis.
They have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh turmeric ( Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa.