PART OF THE MAFF (Ministry of agriculture, food and forests)

More about the MAFF
(if they have their site working)

Or try their Facebook page
(if you have a Facebook account)

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What about MAF and MAFFF?

Originally it was MAF, the F of food being implied.

New elections, new government, everything was shuffled, food was added.

2006: New elections, new…, ah well you know, the F for fisheries was added, it became MAFFF.

2016: New government… fisheries became a ministry on its own (again), back to MAFF. But some places still refer to MAFFF

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What can Quarantine do for you?

Any time you import of export goods to or form overseas, you will have to pass through customs. And customs is obliged to check that you have the proper quarantine papers, making sure that your animal or plant products do not contain pests.

• Export & import permit (for plant and animal materials only)
• Come with your paperwork to our office. But for now IMPORTS you can get started online. Just go to the import requests menu.
• Phytosanitary certificate
• When you export animal or plant products, they may or may not need treatment. The quarantine department overseas needs to know what we have done. That is where we issue a phytosanitary certificate for you. (For imports into Tonga it is the other way around of course. You get this paper then from the exporter overseas. You need it to get the quarantine entry.)
• Quarantine entry (imports)
• The minimum document you need are your airway or shipping bill
• If it were plant and animals materials: return to your import permit page, and start the request from there.
• Any other goods: just go to the import requests > all other goods menu.
• Other quarantine services.

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How to use our online services?

• Have a look at the how to import? page first

Did you know?

mateloi talatalalalahi — giant sensitive plant

Mimosa diplotricha

The normal mateloi, sensitive plant, (mimosa pudica) is already a pest enough, now imagine one up to 2 m high and with even bigger and sharper spines. It has invaded all neighbouring islands, including Niuē, although it has been largely eradicated there now. Until April 2009 Tonga was the only country free of it, then suddenly it showed up in Fangatongo (Neiafu). But at that time your quarantine department was able to kill them all.

For more information (pests only) see Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.

Or look in the Tongan Wikipedia.