The Health Ministry will now be responsible for monitoring food items coming into the country, following reports of flood victims receiving expired goods from a New Zealand Organization.

Public Relations Officer Iliesa Tora said the Ministry previously had this task before it was handed over to the Quarantine Department. He adds the consignment of food in question was only brought to their attention after they were informed by the Consumer Council of Fiji.

However Director of Quarantine Herangi Forete had earlier stated they allowed the consignment of food items into the country because it had passed their bi-security checks, which involves them checking for diseases and pests only and not individual food items.

Meanwhile Tora said no action will be taken on the organization and since they have again taken over the monitoring of food items, they will ensure stringent measures will now be put in place to ensure similar incidents do not reoccur.