In this bulletin:
1. SOL/AUST — Australia, Solomon Islands begin talks on comprehensive treaty as Albanese announces education package
2. TONGA — Tonga ratifies CTBT, completing Treaty universalisation in Pacific region
3. PACIFIC — Missile test in South Pacific ‘routine’ and ‘consistent with international law’, China insists
4. PACIFIC — ‘People born in U.S territories have a constitutional right to citizenship’
5. SOL — PM Albanese hands over Australia-funded Naha Health Centre to Solomon Islands
6. FIJI — VITI Reggae Festival unveils 2026 lineup, launches talent search for indigenous artists
7. PACNEWS BIZ — High-tech vessel completes seabed minerals work in Cook Islands EEZ
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji secures around $3.7B in climate finance support
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Global food safety standards body Codex adopts new guidance on “may contain” allergen labels
10. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Is the Pacific’s new climate architecture ready for its first real test?
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — SPREP-PPIN regional reflection event charts the next phase of Nature-based Solutions
SOL/AUST – DIPLOMACY/SECURITY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Jul 2026
Australia, Solomon Islands begin talks on comprehensive treaty as Albanese announces education package
By Pita Ligaiula
HONIARA, 08 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS) — Australia and Solomon Islands will begin negotiations on a new comprehensive treaty, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirming discussions are already underway following talks with Prime Minister Matthew Wale in Honiara.
Speaking after their meeting, Albanese said the two countries had agreed that Wale would visit Australia to negotiate the treaty.
“I welcome the vision and energy of Prime Minister Wale that he is bringing to our relationship, including our agreement on his visit to Australia to negotiate a new comprehensive treaty between our two nations.
“We’ll be working closely together to capture our shared ambition to elevate our relationship, underpinned by mutual trust, respect and open dialogue,” PM Albanese said.
He said the leaders had held “a very good meeting” with senior ministers to advance negotiations.
“We are hoping to conclude as soon as possible.”
Albanese said Australia had strengthened its relationships across the Pacific since 2022 and announced an SBD$56 million (US$6.94 million) education support package for Solomon Islands.
The funding will provide new books for every primary school child, upgrade rural training centres and support the government’s education policy.
He also announced that Australia and Solomon Islands had concluded a Memorandum of Understanding for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Academy.
“This MOU will allow our countries to work together on the construction of the academy as well as provide advanced training and growth requirements,” he said.
Albanese also highlighted the Australia-funded Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre, describing the SBD$45 million (US$5.57 million) facility as one that will improve healthcare for women, babies and the wider community.
He said both countries shared the view that regional peace and security should be led by Pacific nations.
“Australia and Solomon Islands share the view of Pacific leaders that the peace and security of our region is best led by the Pacific. We know we’re stronger when we stand together.”
Responding to a question on whether Solomon Islanders could receive visa arrangements similar to those included in the Australia-Fiji Vuvale Union Treaty, Albanese said the issue would be considered during negotiations.
“We’ll continue to, I’m sure that’s one of the issues of exchanges of people that we will discuss.”
“We look forward to these negotiations, they’ll be comprehensive as well. We want a comprehensive treaty and arrangements with Solomon Islands, and we have tasked, today I’ve tasked Minister Wong, our Foreign Minister, to lead the discussions,” said Albanese.
He said the negotiations would also involve Pacific Minister Patrick Conroy, Defence Minister Richard Marles and other ministers.
Prime Minister Wale welcomed the negotiations and joked that Solomon Islands expected to secure the best agreement.
“They always say the best wine comes last.
“So, the fact that Nakamal, and PNG, and Falepili, and Fiji, and they’ve all done these agreements, we certainly would be the last of the Melanesian countries.
“So, we expect the best wine,” said PM Wale…. PACNEWS
TONGA – NUKE TREATY: CTBTO/ ICAN PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Jul 2026
Tonga ratifies CTBT, completing Treaty universalisation in Pacific region
NEW YORK, 08 JULY 2026 (CTBTO/ICAN) — Tonga has ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), becoming the 179th State to do so and completing universalisation of the Treaty across the Pacific region. For a part of the world deeply impacted by nuclear testing, it is a milestone long in the making.
The ratification was formalised on 07 July 2026 at a ceremony at United Nations Headquarters in New York, attended by David Nanopoulos, Chief of the Treaty Section, UN Office of Legal Affairs, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations, Ambassador Viliami Va’inga Tōnē, and CTBTO Senior Liaison Officer, Charles Abechi Oko.
Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), welcomed the ratification.
“Tonga’s ratification is a proud moment for the Pacific and a meaningful contribution to the global effort to ban nuclear test explosions for good. The Kingdom has long stood on the right side of this issue: as a party to the Treaty of Rarotonga, as a consistent voice for non-proliferation and disarmament, and as a country that understands how nuclear testing has impacted this region. I am deeply grateful to the many Tongan officials and regional partners who worked to bring this moment about.”
Melissa Parke, Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons said: “We congratulate Tonga on its accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
“Tonga will be the 75th state party to the treaty, which has another 25 signatories. These 100 countries have taken the humanity-affirming and necessary decision to totally reject nuclear weapons. It is time the nine nuclear-armed countries and other states that endorse the use of nuclear weapons get on the right side of history by eliminating these weapons that are a constant existential threat to every one of us,” Parke said.
When depositing its instrument of accession to the TPNW, Viliami Vaʼinga Tōnē, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations, stated that “for a Small Island Developing State, these treaty actions represent far more than the fulfilment of legal obligations. They reflect our deeply held conviction that lasting peace, international security, the protection and sustainable stewardship of our oceans, and the progressive advancement of nuclear disarmament are inextricably linked to the well-being of humanity and to the sustainable future to which we collectively aspire.”
UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, also underscored the Treaty’s importance.
“The CTBT is an integral part of the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. It embodies a simple but vital truth: nuclear tests must never be allowed, not even one,” said Nakamitsu.
Tonga’s ratification is the result of sustained engagement between the Tongan leadership, regional partners, and the CTBTO over many years.
Tonga is a party to the Treaty of Rarotonga, which established the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone in 1985, the second such zone in a populated area of the world, prohibiting the manufacture, stationing, and testing of nuclear explosive devices in member territories. Tonga is also a State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
With Tonga’s signature and ratification, the CTBT now counts 188 States Signatories and 179 ratifying States. Within the Organisation’s broader SEAPFE grouping, which covers South-East Asia, the Pacific and the Far East, just two countries have yet to ratify…. PACNEWS
PAC – MISSLE TEST: RNZ/AP PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Jul 2026
Missile test in South Pacific ‘routine’ and ‘consistent with international law’, China insists
BEIJING/WASHINGTON, 08 JULY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC/AP) — China insists a missile test it carried out in the South Pacific was a routine arrangement and consistent with international law.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press conference in Beijing the test was a “routine arrangement” in China’s annual military training programme.
“It is consistent with international law and customary international practice and is not directed at any specific country or target,” she said.
“We hope that the relevant countries will avoid overinterpretation,” a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said.
The missile firing came shortly after a new defence treaty was signed between Australia and Fiji.
Japan’s Defence Ministry in a statement expressed concern about China’s increasing military activity and urged Beijing to “rethink” its missile testing so that the projectiles would not fly over Japan or pose other security risks.
“China’s military activities, combined with its lack of transparency, have become a grave concern for Japan and the international society,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said in Japan, citing Beijing’s military activities around Japan and its increased military spending.
U.S State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott said while the U.S was “working harder than ever” to prevent nuclear proliferation, China was doing the opposite.
“Beijing’s rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup is of great concern to the region and the world,” he said.
He added the U.S will continue to urge Beijing to engage in meaningful arms control discussions and commit to a regularised notification arrangement for intercontinental ballistic missile and space launches.
The concern is a result of a lack of clear information, said Drew Thompson, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore: “China’s military modernisation and buildup have occurred without concurrent increases in openness and transparency, resulting in uncertainty about China’s intentions.”
Lyle Morris, a senior fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute’s Centre for China Analysis, said the launch was the first publicly acknowledged test with a dummy warhead from a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine of the Chinese navy to travel this far into the Pacific.
Morris said it is noteworthy that the information available shows Japan, New Zealand and Australia received notifications in advance, but not the U.S.
The test was a signal to the U.S, he said: “The announcement demonstrates that China’s nuclear deterrent is no longer centred solely on land-based missiles.”
China maintains a “no first use” of nuclear weapons policy but is also actively pursuing nuclear technology and weaponry as part of its long-term strategy to modernize the People’s Liberation Army.
China has a fleet of six ballistic-missile submarines and 59 nuclear-powered attack submarines, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a Washington-based think tank.
In its latest report to Congress on China’s military capabilities, released in late 2025, the Pentagon said China had an estimated stockpile of around 600 nuclear warheads in 2024, adding that the PLA remains on track to field more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030…. PACNEWS
PAC – CITIZENSHIP: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Jul 2026
‘People born in U.S territories have a constitutional right to citizenship’
WASHINGTON/HAGATNA, 06 JULY 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — A recent U.S Supreme Court ruling may not have directly addressed U.S citizenship in U.S territories, but it has implications for the millions of American citizens in the five inhabited U.S territories, according to the nonprofit advocacy group Right to Democracy.
Neil Weare, co-director of Right to Democracy, said the high court’s 30 June decision makes it clear that anyone born on U.S soil has a constitutional right to U.S citizenship.
The decision struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order, which attempted to invalidate birthright citizenship as part of his immigration sweep.
The directive targeted children born in the United States to parents who are either illegal aliens on temporary visas or are illegal aliens.
“Citizenship, then and now, was the right to have rights — to freely participate in our political community. The Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment extended that promise to ‘every free-born person in this land,’” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court.
“We keep that promise today.”
The ruling has important implications, particularly for American Samoans, who are considered U.S nationals but not recognised as U.S citizens.
The complex distinction poses a recurring question before the court.
One case involves American Samoans living in Alaska, who were charged with electoral fraud for participating in U.S elections on the assumption that nationality was synonymous with citizenship for voting purposes.
Other previous cases involved American Samoans in Utah, who sued the federal government after being denied the right to vote because they are not considered U.S citizens.
Andra Samoa, a former American Samoan legislator, said the Supreme Court ruling sends a clear message—that federal officials cannot simply redefine whether someone has a right to citizenship.
“With so many of our American Samoan brothers and sisters facing criminal prosecution in Alaska because the federal government denies them recognition as U.S citizens, this Supreme Court ruling is important for our community,” Samoa said.
Charles Ala’ilima, an American Samoan lawyer involved in the Alaska case, said the high court’s ruling strengthens the argument that all charges against his clients must be dropped because they are, in fact, U.S citizens under the Fourteenth Amendment.
Many important voices in U.S territories welcomed the high court’s ruling, emphasizing that U.S citizenship is a constitutional right that cannot be turned on or off at will.
“This is significant for people born in U.S territories, because the federal government continues to argue—contrary to the text and history of the Citizenship Clause—that it can turn citizenship on and off in U.S territories,” Weare said.
Adi Martínez-Román, co-director of Right to Democracy, said the ruling makes it clear that, except for very narrow exceptions, the United States must recognise fundamental citizenship rights for all people born under its rule.
U.S Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett said the high court’s decision in Trump v. Barbara is important to the U.S Caribbean territory, given the federal government’s claim that territorial citizenship is a legislative privilege rather than a constitutional right.
“That’s not just contrary to the Constitution but contrary to the 1917 Treaty of Transfer, which expressly recognised that Virgin Islanders would be recognised as U.S. citizens,” she said.
Former Guam Senator Mary Camacho Torres said the decision should serve as a roadmap for recognising that people born in U.S territories have a constitutional right to U.S citizenship that neither Congress nor the president can take away.
“No elected official or legislative body should have a veto over whether someone born in Guam or anywhere else on U.S soil is a U.S citizen,” said Torres, who is running for Congress.
“Whatever the people of Guam decide regarding our future political status, so long as we are under the U.S flag, we should be entitled to equal citizenship and equal rights.”
Three former Puerto Rican lawmakers also applauded the ruling.
Ana Irma Rivera Lassén said they have long argued that the political branches do not have unilateral power to define who is and isn’t a citizen, and the Supreme Court’s ruling confirms that.
Eduardo Bhatia said the Supreme Court ruling is a powerful reaffirmation that birthright citizenship is a constitutional guarantee that no president can erase by executive order.
Zoe Laboy said Puerto Ricans recognised right away what was at stake when Trump sought to exclude the children of immigrants from the protections of citizenship, and the high court “was right to reject that exclusion…. PACNEWS
SOL – HEALTH FACILITY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Jul 2026
PM Albanese hands over Australia-funded Naha Health Centre to Solomon Islands
HONIARA, 08 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has officially handed over the new Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre to the people of Honiara Tuesday, describing it as a symbol of the partnership between Australia and Solomon Islands.
Speaking at the handover ceremony alongside Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale on the country’s 48th Independence Day, Albanese said the facility would now be entrusted to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Honiara City Council.
“We entrust its future to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Honiara City Council. In doing so, we pay tribute to the dedication, skill and hard work of everyone who has helped turn a remarkable vision, into a transformative reality.”
Albanese said the centre reflected the partnership between the two countries.
“On a day when your proud nation celebrates independence, this centre is a celebration of the partnership between our citizens and our nations.
“This place is proof of what Australia and Solomon Islands can achieve when we work together,” he said.
He said the project had created local jobs and strengthened local skills.
“When we create local jobs – and empower locals with the skills to do them – from construction to health care.”
Albanese said the facility had been designed for local conditions.
“When we build for local conditions, with reliable clean energy and the resilience to handle extreme weather so that if disaster strikes, these essential services are there when people need them most,” he said.
He also said the centre reflected the value of community-led development.
“And this place also demonstrates what we can do when we trust in community.
“When we build from the ground up, bringing together the comprehensive, high-quality care that every citizen of Solomon Islands deserves – especially the youngest Solomon Islanders, the future of this nation,” Albanese emphasised.
Albanese said he hoped generations of Solomon Islanders would benefit from the facility.
‘It is wonderful to think that there will be happy and healthy children who get immunisations and care here and go on to grow up and bring their own children here one day.
“That is the positive and practical difference we can make when we build to last,” he said.
Albanese said the health centre reflected the broader cooperation between Australia and Solomon Islands.
“That is true for this extraordinary facility.
“And it is true for everything that Australia and Solomon Islands are doing together to build a more stable, peaceful and prosperous Pacific.
“Our efforts are not just a partnership between nations – they are a pact between generations.
“So that we pass on a healthier and stronger future to our communities and our countries,” he said……PACNEWS
FIJI – INDIGENEOUS ARTIST: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Jul 2026
VITI Reggae Festival unveils 2026 lineup, launches talent search for indigenous artists
SUVA, 08 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — The VITI Reggae Festival at Prince Charles Park in Nadi from 8-10 October will boast a regional lineup headlined by South African reggae star TK Dube, son of the legendary Lucky Dube.
Organisers will also use a community talent competition to scour for Fiji’s next indigenous performers.
The three-day event, hosted by the Viti Indigenous Tourism Alliance (VITA), will run daily from 3pm to 11pm under the theme “NOQU BULA – My Life, NOQU VUVALE – My Family, NOQU VANUA – My Community, NOQU VITI – My Fiji.”
TK Dube will be the star attraction alongside a list of regional reggae heavyweights who will join Fiji’s top local talent, with organisers promising professional sound, lighting, and stage production at the iconic Nadi venue.
“The energy at Prince Charles Park this October will be unmatched,” said festival organisers, who confirmed that June was spent finalising agreements with artists who embody the spirit of reggae.
Tickets will be on sale 16 July, through Ticketmax, with early-bird prices available for a limited time.
Alongside the main concert, VITA has launched a digital talent competition running from July 1 to August 1, where Fijians of all ages can submit original work reflecting their cultural identity.
Entries are divided into six age categories, from “VITI Pei” (babies aged 0-4) to “VITI Matua” (adults 50+), with parents required to submit for all participants under 18.
Artists can enter through three platforms depending on their medium: one-minute original music videos on Facebook, visual art or craft photography on Instagram, and oral traditions or poetry on TikTok. All submissions must connect to the entrant’s cavuti, tutu vakavanua, or ancestral legends.
“Submissions must respect traditional protocols associated with the Vanua,” organisers noted, with all entries required to be original works.
Public voting through likes, shares, and comments will determine the top five finalists in each category, who will be announced by September 1 and invited to perform live at the festival.
VITA, registered as a charitable trust in 2023, said the competition aims to champion indigenous tourism by empowering local operators and ensuring cultural heritage remains central to Fiji’s economy…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
COOKS – DEEP SEA MINING: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 08 Jul 2026
High-tech vessel completes seabed minerals work in Cook Islands EEZ
RAROTONGA, 08 JULY 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) — The Singapore-flagged research vessel Armada 8605 completed approved deep-sea exploration in the Cook Islands EEZ for Moana Minerals before disembarking four crew members in Rarotonga under ‘strict border’ clearances.
This was confirmed by Edward Herman, the director of partnerships and cooperation at the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) and Cook Islands Customs chief Maria Matua-Ioane late last week.
Owned by marine exploration firm Ocean Infinity, the vessel arrived in Rarotonga last Monday local time to drop off four crew members for international departure.
The vessel’s arrival was noticed by residents, some of whom posted pictures on social media that raised curiosity. At the time, the vessel’s involvement in conducting seabed mineral activities within the country’s EEZ was not revealed.
Armada 8605 is built specifically to operate deep-scanning robot subs capable of mapping and searching the ocean floor at extreme depths – up to 6000 metres and has been navigating the Pacific region.
“The seabed minerals activities conducted were part of MML’s (Moana Minerals) approved Expedition Plans and carried out within the designated licence area,” Herman told Cook Islands News on Thursday local time.
‘As per our standard process, all environmental data and information collected by our licence holders is publicly available on our website and through our office.”
Moana Minerals is one of the three primary seabed exploration licence holders in the Cook Islands.
Herman said SBMA approved the Proposed Expedition Plan from the Moana Minerals that outlined the use of the Armada 8605 for their exploratory work in their licensed area.
“For their transit through Territorial waters, they needed to seek approval from the relevant authorities like any other marine vessel.”
He added that SBMA was aware of their work in the licence holder area.
“The arrival of the vessel near Rarotonga was coordinated with their agent here in Rarotonga and the relevant authorities.”
Customs chief Maria Matua-Ioane said Customs was notified on 04 June 2026, that the research and survey vessel Armada 8605 intended to enter the Cook Islands EEZ.
Matua-Ioane said relevant government agencies undertook extensive due diligence checks, shared information, and completed a risk assessment prior to the vessel’s entry.
“The Seabed Minerals Authority confirmed the vessel’s research activities and advised that Armada 8605 would be transiting into the Cook Islands EEZ and was not expected to enter any Cook Islands port,” she said.
“Customs monitored the vessel while it operated within the EEZ. The vessel later sought permission to disembark crewmembers and, following changes to its travel plans, confirmed that the crew would be disembarked in Rarotonga.
“Given the vessel’s weekend notification, Customs instructed the shipping agent to notify all relevant border agencies by phone to ensure they were aware of the revised arrangements and that border clearance requirements could be coordinated.”
Matua-Ioane said all Customs declarations were submitted by the vessel’s agent and verified by Customs officers.
“Customs completed the vessel’s inward clearance and conducted baggage examinations of the four crew members disembarking the vessel while it was out at sea.
“Officers worked alongside Immigration, Health, and Biosecurity officials to complete all required border checks.”
She also said that based on the extensive pre-arrival risk assessment and information provided during the due diligence process, a full search of the vessel was not considered necessary.
“Customs only conducts searches when there is reasonable cause, the vessel remained outside of the Port.”
However, Matua-Ioane added that Customs officers questioned the vessel’s Master regarding cargo on board and conducted a cursory inspection of the vessel to verify the information provided.
It was earlier reported that Transam operations manager Daniel Gribble said the crew was en route from Tahiti to Pago Pago, however, the flight out of Pago Pago to Auckland did not match connecting flights to Europe and the USA for the four crew members.
Gribble said that once necessary checks on the vessel and its crew were completed, the four crew members were granted permission to come ashore and were transported to the international airport…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CLIMATE FNANCE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 08 Jul 2026
Fiji secures around $3.7B in climate finance support
SUVA, 08 JULY 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — The Fiji Government has told Parliament that Fiji has secured around $3.7 billion(US$1.85 bullion) in climate-related budget support through loans and grants, while acknowledging that it is difficult to determine the exact amount of climate finance received because much of it is embedded within broader budget support and development projects.
Responding to a written parliamentary question from Opposition MP Premila Kumar, Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development Esrom Immanuel said Fiji accesses international climate finance through direct budget support, multilateral climate funds and bilateral development partners.
The Minister said the Government secured approximately $1.1 billion (US$550 million) in loans and grants during the 2025-2026 financial year alone through partnerships with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank Group, the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, the European Union, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the OPEC Fund.
He said these policy-based budget support operations have been in place since the 2018 financial year and support reforms aimed at strengthening public financial management, promoting economic growth and improving climate and community resilience.
The Minister also highlighted several major climate-focused infrastructure projects.
These include the Critical Bridges Project, co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and World Bank, which is designed to improve Fiji’s transport connectivity through climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure.
He said the Government recently signed a $37.3 million (US$18.65 million) grant agreement with the Asian Development Bank for the Enhancing Climate Resilience of Coastal Communities Sector Project, which will reduce climate vulnerability through nature-based coastal protection and climate-resilient livelihood initiatives.
The Minister also confirmed that Fiji secured $60.3 million (US$30.15 million) in Climate Investment Funds financing in October 2025.
The funding, split equally between grants and concessional loans, will support Government capacity building, integrated land and ocean management, rural development and project management, with additional grant funding expected for energy sector programmes.
He added that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change continues to receive substantial support through international climate financing mechanisms, including the Green Climate Fund.
The Minister tabled figures showing Australia’s contribution to budget support and grants over recent years, with total financing amounting to approximately FJD$4.15 billion (US$2,07 billion), comprising FJD$3.59 billion (US$1.79 million) in budget support financing and FJD$560.7 million (US$280.35 million) in Australian grant assistance.
On the conditions attached to the funding, the Minister said World Bank concessional loans carry zero interest, a 0.75 percent annual service charge and a 40-year repayment period, including a 10-year grace period, while Asian Development Bank loans carry a fixed one percent interest rate.
He added that grant-funded programmes are generally implemented over a period of four to six years in partnership with Government agencies…. PACNEWS
UN – CODEX: FAO PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 08 Jul 2026
Global food safety standards body Codex adopts new guidance on “may contain” allergen labels
GENEVA/ROME, 08 JULY 2026 (FAO) — The Codex Alimentarius Commission today agreed to adopt new international guidelines on the use of precautionary allergen labelling (PAL), marking an important step towards making ‘may contain” statements more meaningful, science-based and consistent for consumers with food allergies around the world.
Food allergies affect an estimated 4.3 percent of the global population, with reactions ranging from mild symptoms to life-threatening anaphylaxis. For millions of consumers, precautionary allergen statements can play an essential role in deciding whether a food is safe to eat.
However, the use of labels such as “may contain” varies widely across products and countries and remains unregulated in many parts of the world. As a result, consumers often face inconsistent information that can make it difficult to judge the real level of risk.
Some people unnecessarily avoid foods that are safe for them, while others may lose confidence in the warnings and choose to ignore them.
During food production, small amounts of an allergen can unintentionally find their way into a food even when that allergen is not an ingredient. For example, a chocolate bar that does not contain nuts may be made on the same production line as products that do, allowing traces of nuts to remain despite cleaning procedures.
Similarly, ingredients such as flour, milk powder or sesame seeds may be unintentionally transferred through shared storage, transport or handling. In these situations, precautionary statements such as “may contain” help alert consumers to a potential residual risk.
The new Codex guidance aims to ensure such warnings are used only when that risk has been scientifically assessed and cannot be adequately controlled through good allergen management practices.
The new Codex guidelines, adopted as an annex to the General Standard for the Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods (CXS 1-1985), establish a harmonized, science- and risk-based approach to the use of precautionary allergen labelling.
Rather than serving as a substitute for good manufacturing practices, such statements should be used only after food businesses have implemented appropriate allergen management measures and conducted a scientific risk assessment demonstrating that a residual risk from unintended allergen presence remains.
The recommendations are underpinned by scientific advice developed through seven joint expert consultations convened by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Together, they provide governments and the food industry with a common scientific framework to assess allergen risks and determine when precautionary allergen labelling is warranted, supporting more consistent decision-making while maintaining a high level of consumer protection.
By promoting a harmonised approach to precautionary allergen labelling, the new Codex text aims to improve consumer confidence while providing greater clarity for food manufacturers and regulators. It complements existing Codex standards on allergen declaration and food allergen management, including the Code of Practice on Food Allergen Management for Food Business Operators (CXC 80-2020).
Established by FAO and WHO, the Codex Alimentarius Commission develops international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in the food trade. While Codex texts are voluntary, they serve as internationally recognised benchmarks that support national legislation and facilitate international trade.
The guidelines were adopted as part of the 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 6 to 10 July 2026…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Is the Pacific’s new climate architecture ready for its first real test?
By Debomita Dasgupta
MELBOURNE, 08 JULY 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) — For the first time since COVID, the Pacific Islands Forum has activated its emergency response mechanism.
The immediate trigger was not climate, but a regional fuel and transport cost shock linked to the war in Iran, which has pushed Tuvalu and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to declare states of emergency and led Fijian ministers to accept a 20 percent pay cut to offset, at least symbolically, rising fuel costs. Forecasters now warn that a developing El Niño, with a roughly 63 percent chance of reaching “very strong” intensity by later this year — leading some to call it a “Super El Niño” — will compound that pressure through the rest of 2026 into early 2027.
A genuinely catastrophic El Niño would force action regardless of the region’s architecture. A moderate one, arriving on top of an emergency mechanism already switched on for an unrelated shock, is a far rarer thing: a live opportunity to see whether the institutions built since the last major El Niño can actually do what they were designed to do, before the stakes are higher.
Over the past few years, the Pacific has built a genuinely new layer of regional climate architecture: the Pacific Resilience Facility, the partnership mechanism governing how external actors engage with the region, and most recently India’s deepening Blue Pacific climate-security partnership. Each has, in its own way, asked whether the region’s institutions can move from declaration to delivery. El Niño’s arrival on top of an already-activated emergency mechanism gives that question something concrete to be tested against.
The most useful comparison is the 2023-24 El Niño, the last major event before this one. In its wake, a number of financing and coordination tools were built or strengthened specifically to pre-position resources ahead of forecast climate shocks, rather than waiting to respond after the fact. Globally, anticipatory action reached 9.6 million people in 2025, activated 146 times across 54 countries, with almost US$120 million released to support these actions. For this specific El Niño, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Food Programme (WFP) have launched their first-ever Joint Anticipatory Action Appeal, seeking US$202 million to help nearly 8.8 million people prepare, with systems already in place for about 1.2 million people and additional financing needed to reach the remaining 7.6 million across 22 priority countries.
What does anticipatory action actually look like in practice? In Somalia, WFP and the Somali government activated a flood anticipatory action plan in 2024 that provided cash assistance up to eight days before floods arrived. It reached almost 80,000 people. In the Philippines, WFP distributed emergency cash to 42,000 families ahead of Cyclone Fung-wong making landfall in November 2025. In Zimbabwe, drought-tolerant seed varieties and small-scale well repairs are pre-deployed ahead of forecast dry seasons to protect crop yield before losses occur. These are not responses to disasters already unfolding — they are interventions triggered by forecasts, before the worse impacts hit.
The open question is whether that maturity is reflected in the Pacific Islands Forum’s own institutions, or whether it remains concentrated in donor-run programmes that sit alongside, rather than inside, the region’s own emergency architecture. Critics of the Partners in the Blue Pacific initiative have argued that much of the region’s recent institution-building has produced commitment without deployable capacity: frameworks, dialogues and partnerships that look substantial on paper but have not yet been tested under the pressure of an actual, simultaneous, region-wide shock.
This El Niño offers a way to find out, without needing to wait for a worse one. Three things are worth watching in the coming months. The first is whether the Pacific Resilience Facility, whose establishing treaty only entered into force on 6 May 2026 after Australia and Fiji’s joint ratification, can move finance to member states ahead of the worst impacts, rather than after. Total pledges have reached US$172 million of the facility’s US$500 million initial target, and its first call for proposals is not due until the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Palau in late August 2026. The second is whether PIF’s emergency response mechanism, already activated for the fuel and transport shock, can absorb a second, climate-driven layer of pressure without requiring an entirely separate activation process. The third is whether external partners — Australia, India and others increasingly engaged through the Blue Pacific framework — channel support through these regional mechanisms, or default to the bilateral, donor-led pathways that have characterised most Pacific disaster response to date.
It is currently impossible to say how strong this El Niño might get, with forecasters cautioning that real certainty about this event’s peak strength will not arrive until at least October 2026. The time between now and then should not be wasted. The Pacific Resilience Facility’s first call for proposals is not due until August. The region’s emergency mechanism is already running, for a different shock, with months still to go before this one peaks. Whether that adds up to readiness, or two systems running in parallel without ever actually meeting, is something this El Niño will show before the next one arrives…. PACNEWS
Debomita Dasgupta is an independent policy researcher in Melbourne working on Indo-Pacific governance, critical minerals and climate diplomacy.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
SPREP-PPIN regional reflection event charts the next phase of Nature-based Solutions
SUVA, 08 JULY 2026 (SPREP) — Government representatives from Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu, together with regional organisations and development partners, came together to reflect on the progress of the Promoting Pacific Islands Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) project and identify the next steps for strengthening Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across the Pacific.
Hosted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP), the PPIN-SPREP Regional Reflection Event provided an opportunity for countries to share experiences, lessons learned, and practical achievements, while exploring how NbS can be more effectively integrated into national policies, planning, and implementation.
“One of the clearest lessons emerging from PPIN is that Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu are not starting from zero. NbS are already reflected through our traditional knowledge, community stewardship, and ecosystem management practices,” said Utulei Lui the PPIN Coordinator for SPREP.
“The opportunity now is to strengthen those existing foundations by building the policies, partnerships, financing, and institutions needed to move from policy recognition to implementation – supporting the ongoing of real actions on the ground.”
Representing Tonga’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Forest, CEO Elisaia Ika, reflected on how the PPIN project has reinforced long-standing Pacific approaches to environmental management.
“We’ve seen that NbS are not new; they are the formalisation of the sustainable practices our communities have long embraced. By strengthening regional partnerships, building coordination, and investing in implementation, we can turn policy into action,” said Ika.
Heimuli Likiafu, Head of Forestry Tonga, also highlighted the importance of stronger institutional coordination, financing, and evidence-based decision-making to support future implementation. During the discussions, participants emphasised opportunities to build on the partnerships established through PPIN by developing biodiversity finance proposals, establishing national technical coordination mechanisms, and integrating NbS into upcoming national strategies and sector plans.
From Tonga’s Department of Environment, Conservation Officer, Mo’ale Falefoonoi said regional collaboration had opened new opportunities for scaling NbS.
He said, “Regional collaboration through PPIN has helped Tonga identify opportunities, partnerships, and investments needed to scale NbS. The future now lies in better data and sustainable financing that supports our people and natural environment.”
Fiji representatives reflected on the project’s contribution to strengthening policy frameworks across the forestry and environmental sectors, while reinforcing existing sustainable resource management approaches.
Dr Alivereti Naikatini of Fiji’s Ministry of Forestry said the project has helped position NbS as an extension of practices already familiar to Pacific communities.
“Fiji’s participation in PPIN has reinforced that NbS builds on the sustainable forestry practices we already know. Now it’s time to translate our shared progress into action that safeguards our forests and creates lasting value for the next generation,” said Naikatini.
The event also highlighted Fiji’s progress in strengthening the enabling environment for Nature-based Solutions through the SPREP-PPIN Project. Discussions focused on the next phase of implementation, including the need for stronger partnerships, financing, technical capacity, and evidence-based decision making.
Representing Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Michelle Baleikanacea highlighted the importance of building on these foundations.
She said, “The SPREP-PPIN Project has helped strengthen Fiji’s policy foundations for Nature-based Solutions. Looking ahead, our focus is on expanding collaboration, improving access to climate and biodiversity finance, strengthening technical capacity, and ensuring that traditional knowledge and scientific evidence continue to guide implementation.”
While Fiji and Tonga shared national experiences during the event, Vanuatu’s participation reinforced the importance of community-led approaches and customary governance in advancing NbS.
Across all three countries, participants recognised that Pacific communities already possess deep knowledge of ecosystem stewardship, and future investments should build upon these strengths while improving policy coordination and institutional support.
A recurring message throughout the event was the value of regional partnerships. The collaboration between governments, regional organisations, and development partners has enabled countries to exchange knowledge, strengthen policy development, and create practical pathways for implementation. Participants agreed that continuing these partnerships will be essential for mobilising finance, improving technical capacity, and accelerating the uptake of NbS across the region.
Looking ahead, countries highlighted the need for stronger monitoring systems, improved access to biodiversity finance, pilot demonstration projects, and continued regional learning to ensure that NbS become an enduring part of Pacific development.
The PPIN-SPREP Regional Reflection Event concluded with a shared commitment to move beyond policy development towards implementation, leverage it further at bilateral and regional level facilitated through platforms such as the 11th Nature Conference and the 17th Conference of the Parties for Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD COP 17) ensuring that NbS continue to strengthen the resilience of Pacific communities, safeguard biodiversity, and support sustainable livelihoods for generations to come.
The PPIN project is funded by the Government of New Zealand through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It seeks to support the development of policy and legislation for NbS, build regional awareness and capacity, and strengthen regional cooperation amongst Pacific Island countries on NbS. PPIN is managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, in partnership with the Pacific Community, SPREP, and the Global Green Growth Institute…. PACNEWS
