The Solomon Islands fortifies food safety procedures in partnership with WHO

5 December 2024

The Solomon Islands rely heavily on imported foods, but laws, regulations, and procedures to safeguard the country’s food supply from food-borne diseases are outdated. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) in partnership with WHO, spearheaded upgrading standard operating procedures (SOPs) to meet global norms, as embodied in the WHO’s Regional Framework for Action on Food Safety in the Western Pacific.

Over 40 national and sub-national experts—food importers, customs officers, biosecurity officers, port authorities and health inspectors—convened through WHO-led workshops designed to streamline food import processes and establish clear operating guidelines. WHO leveraged its convening power to bring together multiple regulatory bodies including the Food Safety Unit of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Biosecurity unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and the Customs and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance. This multisectoral collaboration—modeled so well by the Solomon Islands—fosters collaborative surveillance across sectors to safeguard against future food safety emergencies.

The photos below illustrate how the Solomon Islands, in collaboration with WHO, is advancing food safety:

© WHO / Jessica Kayamori
Ethel Mapolu, Director, Environmental Health Division, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Solomon Islands

Ethel Mapolu, Director, Environmental Health Division, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Solomon Islands

“Food safety is everyone’s business. We all need to take responsibility for and prioritize it as the business of the day. This is only possible with government commitment. In the Solomon Islands, the government is now working to refocus its strategies and re-divert its energies towards advancing food safety in the country.”

© WHO / Jessica Kayamori
Patricia Soqoilo, Chief Health Inspector, Food Safety unit, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Solomon Islands

Patricia Soqoilo, Chief Health Inspector, Food Safety unit, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Solomon Islands

“How does one know if the food they are consuming is? Our health is at stake. So, I take my job working with food importers very seriously. Several stakeholders, including importers, must ensure that food imported into our country is safe and that we work together to safeguard the health of the consumers. Food safety goes beyond compliance with a set of rules, it is a responsibility that we all must take to protect our health.”

© WHO / Jessica Kayamori
Ms Annette Ibe, Customs Technical Officer, Customs and Excise Division, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Solomon Islands

Ms Annette Ibe, Customs Technical Officer, Customs and Excise Division, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Solomon Islands

“It is critical to work across sectors and collaborate with our counterparts in food safety and security because our work is connected. It's important that we have the information and understanding—particularly around food imports and trade—to ensure that there are no gaps in compliance with food safety measures. This workshop is a step towards better alignment across sectors and divisions.”

© WHO / Jessica Kayamori
Ms Selina Lipa, Chief Fisheries Officer, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, the Solomon Islands

Selina Lipa, Chief Fisheries Officer, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources

“Food safety is very important for the Solomon Islands. After this workshop and meeting with the other ministries and stakeholders, we have all come to realize that we need each other to actually advance food safety in our country. We need proper food security measures and standards in place that we all abide by.”

© WHO / Jessica Kayamori
Mr Mark Arimalanga, Food Safety Officer, Food Safety Unit, Environmental Health Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Solomon Islands

Mr Mark Arimalanga, Food Safety Officer, Food Safety Unit, Environmental Health Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Solomon Islands

“Solomon Islands imports a lot of fish and canned products. It therefore important for us to implement controls around food safety, bio security and imports. At this workshop representatives from these sectors were present and we had the opportunity to discuss how to better collaborate with each other and adhere to food safety measures.”

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