A training program on border biosecurity procedures and measures for the import and export of plants and plant products has begun in the Maldives.
Organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, the five-day training program titled 'Workshop on Biosecurity for Import and Export of Plant Products into the Maldives' is being conducted under the World Bank-assisted Maldives – Transforming Fisheries Sector Management in the South West Indian Ocean Region and Maldives Project (TRANSFORM).
The Fisheries Ministry stated that the objective of this training program is to increase institutional capacity, strengthen ties between border and regulatory agencies, and enhance the control of transboundary movements. Accordingly, the training will highlight border control and mitigation measures in line with regional and international best practices.
The Fisheries Ministry noted that the first day of the training program was dedicated to a multi-stakeholder workshop on biosecurity, while the second to fifth days will focus on providing technical training related to pest risk assessment, disease surveillance, and health certification systems.
Senior officials active in the fields of biosecurity regulation, border control, surveillance, and public health are participating in this training. These include representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Maldives Customs Service, Ministry of Tourism and Environment (Environmental Regulation Authority - ERA), Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), and the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
