23/04/2026
๐ข HEADLINE: HISTORY MADE! ๐ป๐บโก๏ธ๐ฆ๐บ First Santo Taro Container Exported to Australia!
The Vanuatu Bureau of Standards (VBS) is proud to announce a major national milestone: the first-ever commercial export of water taro from Santo to the Melbourne market!
โ
Why this matters:
This shipment proves that Vanuatu has met Australiaโs strict biosecurity & import requirements through the VBS-led National Standard Packhouse System (SPS) โ a direct result of Government mandate (COM Decision No. 51/2025).
๐น What VBS CEO Atanas Pipite says:
โThis is NOT a one-off shipment. It is the establishment of a long-term export mechanism to maintain quality, increase farmer income, and build confidence in international markets.โ
๐น Whatโs next?
Next month: Second shipment + Official opening of Santo Packhouse by PM Jotham Napat.
From July: New packhouses in Pentecost, Malekula & Tanna (VT300 million budget).
This is a new era for Vanuatuโs farmers โ moving from producers to exporters. ๐
๐ป๐บ Well done to all partners: DARD, Biosecurity Vanuatu, Customs, World Best Trading (WBT), and Market Fresh Melbourne.
Daily Post Link: https://www.dailypost.vu/news/santo-taro-farmers-first-export-to-australia/article_4667ec31-4c95-5798-b223-e86aa740c438.html
Santo farmers made history last Friday with the first export of a container of water taro to the Melbourne market in Australia.