Border Security

The Biosecurity Border control works closely with other borderline departments which are department of Customs, department of Immigration, department of Ports and Marine and other agencies such as Airline agencies, shipping agencies, customs brokers, stevedores, Airports Vanuatu Ltd, Vanuatu Post Limited, and Courier service agencies.
The Biosecurity border is mandated to facilitate trade at the borders including customs border. With main objectives to achieve, Biosecurity border is tasked mainly to protect Vanuatu from the introduction of harmful exotic and invasive plant and animal pests and diseases. The border activities cover all ports of entry including 3 international airports, 2 international wharves, 4 other ports in outer islands.

Airport

Individual travelers to Vanuatu must comply to regulations and requirements of Biosecurity Border entry. All requirements are outlined under the Travelers requirements. Non compliance to these requirements will carry heavy penalty fines on the spot.

Cargo airfreight

Air-freighted articles are inspected by Biosecurity Border Control officers stationed at the airport. Articles that do not meet import conditions will be detained and destroyed. Articles that require an import permit and do meet the import requirements will be released upon payments of an import permit. Any illegal or prohibited imports will be penalized through Biosecurity instant fines or prosecution.

1. Present airway bill upfront to the Biosecurity airport office and relevant documents for clearance
2. Inspection of documents and if consignment has met all requirements, a release stamp will be issued on the airway Bill.
3. Upon inspection of documents if there needs to be further physical examination of consignment, a ‘On notice for Inspection’ stamp will be issued on the airway bill.
4. Upon physical examination, when all requirements are met, a release stamp will be issued and the consignment is released.
5. If consignment does not meet Biosecurity import requirements, it will be detained for further assessment and if deemed to be of high quarantine risk, the consignment will be destroyed.
6. If consignment is prohibited to enter the country under the Biosecurity Import conditions, importer will be fined and consignment will be destroyed.

Vanuatu islands pristine flora and fauna resources are fundamental for food security and income for all communities throughout Vanuatu. The sustainability of the resources will depend entirely on the protection provided by government agencies mandated to protect these resources. The policy frameworks developed by the government are to enhance economic development, encourage economic activities in agriculture and tourism to build rural economy. The government recognising the tourism sector as one of the pillars for growth has declared additional port of entries apart from Port Vila and Luganville

Biosecurity Vanuatu sea port operation is to ensure that all sea going crafts, people, and goods do not bring with them organism that can affect the livelihood and the environment of the people of Vanuatu.

The services that Biosecurity Vanuatu provides at all ports of entry are differs depending on the Port.

Port Vila and Luganville are the two main ports that provides the following services

1. International Sea going craft clearance
2. International Cargo clearance
3. International Passengers clearance

Mystery Island, Litlitz, Sola, and Lenakel are islands approved ports of entries that provide services including Sea going craft clearance and passenger clearance. Ports that are not declared ports of entry in Vanuatu can be visited but must first get clearance at declared port of entries.

All food and other good on board must be declared on arrival and must remain on board at all times throughout Vanuatu.

All live animal and lives plants must not be taken ashore anywhere in Vanuatu

Heavy penalty applies for infringement

Mail Post

The mail posts coming in through the Vanuatu Post Ltd are opened in the mail room every morning at 8:00 am and inspected, selected both by Biosecurity and Customs officer in front of the Post officers. Parcels are either selected to go through customs for customs clearance or to be released by Post Office or to go through Biosecurity checks, inspections, treatments or destruction procedures. Parcels of Biosecurity interest are tagged with Biosecurity hold sticker.

Parcels that are being selected for Customs interest and Biosecurity interest are then entered into Post ITC system and taken into Customs and Biosecurity storage ready for consignee to come for them.

Parcels are opened once the receiver show their Post Office “item to collect” notice to the Biosecurity and Customs customer service desk at the Post office. The Biosecurity officer then decides after inspection to be treated, released or detained for destruction depending on the nature of risk. There are charged fees for Inspection, treatment and destruction.

Parcels that are going to Islands without Biosecurity officers Procedures

Parcels are selected, inspected in front of a Post Officer as the Consignee representative at the Port of entry in Port Vila and the decision takes place during the inspection whether the consignment is to be treated, released or destructed. However, Parcel inspection, destruction or treatment charges are invoiced by the Biosecurity officer and sent by the Vanuatu Post to the local agents then to the owner for payment. The payment is sent through western union for receipting then the parcel is dispatched to the owner by the Post office.

Seeds inspected at the Post Office on arrival at the post by the Biosecurity Officer. The seeds require an Import Permit and have to be sourced from an approved seeds company that is listed by the department of Biosecurity Vanuatu. Seeds that are NOT from those approved Companies are detained for destruction.

Seaports

Vanuatu islands pristine flora and fauna resources are fundamental for food security and income for all communities throughout Vanuatu. The sustainability of the resources will depend entirely on the protection provided by government agencies mandated to protect these resources. The policy frameworks developed by the government are to enhance economic development, encourage economic activities in agriculture and tourism to build rural economy. The government recognising the tourism sector as one of the pillars for growth has declared additional port of entries apart from Port Vila and Luganville

Biosecurity Vanuatu sea port operation is to ensure that all sea going crafts, people, and goods do not bring with them organism that can affect the livelihood and the environment of the people of Vanuatu.

The services that Biosecurity Vanuatu provides at all ports of entry are differs depending on the Port.

Port Vila and Luganville are the two main ports that provides the following services

1. International Sea going craft clearance
2. International Cargo clearance
3. International Passengers clearance

Mystery Island, Litlitz, Sola, and Lenakel are islands approved ports of entries that provide services including Sea going craft clearance and passenger clearance. Ports that are not declared ports of entry in Vanuatu can be visited but must first get clearance at declared port of entries.

All food and other good on board must be declared on arrival and must remain on board at all times throughout Vanuatu.

All live animal and lives plants must not be taken ashore anywhere in Vanuatu

Heavy penalty applies for infringement