30 September 2011: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has announced the establishment of a regional pesticide stock management system (PSMS), for Fiji, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, based at the SPC’s Land and Resources Division. The PSMC is a response to an identified need from the countries for a regionally harmonized pesticide registration system, and a central entry point for donor and technical assistance from development partners.

According to SPC, the project is part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN’s (FAO) activities under “Capacity Building for the Implementation of Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) in African Caribbean and Pacific Countries.” The center will be responsible for: assessing registration applications; creating a data repository; and referring all pesticide recommendations to a regional approval committee for endorsement. National governments will retain responsibility for the final authorization of sale and use of pesticides in their countries. The Australian Government, through the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority, will provide technical assistance on assessment of pesticides and guidance to national pesticide regulators on the registration process.

A request to formalize the operation of the center will be submitted to the Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry, scheduled to convene in September 2012. [SPC Press Release]