MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New Zealand Consultants.

Two New Zealand Consultants will be arriving in the islands this weekend to review Falklands import procedures and issues relating to bio-security.

John Hellstrom and Bruce Simpson will be arriving in the islands on Saturday for two weeks of meetings to review the procedures in place and make recommendations to the government.

Steve Pointing from the Department of Agriculture said that Bio-security is making sure that plant and animal diseases are not brought into the islands. This can arrive on plant and animal products, clothing, second hand vehicles and equipment.

There are already procedures in place when importing into the islands, but the consultants will advise how government departments, mainly the Department of Agriculture, Customs and Immigration and Environmental Planning can work together more efficiently.

Steve says the current system works theoretically, but in practice not as well as it could.

There is concern about introducing non-native species to the islands that are not already here, to stop pests competing with native species. This has happened in the past, but the aim of these regulations is prevent it in the future.

During their time here, the consultants will be re-viewing imports into Mare Harbour, RAF and LanChile arrivals and the St Brandon calling into Fox Bay and Stanley.

Corina Goss - FIBS - Stanley