The Director of Quarantine said the consignment of expired food items brought in by a New Zealand organization for distribution to flood victims was allowed into the country because it had passed their bi-security checks.

Hiangi Forete said people should understand that their bi-security checks only apply to them checking for diseases and pests.

He added the container arrived into the country at the Lautoka wharf and their men carried out the checks and later cleared the consignment.

Forete said he has spoken to his officials that carried out the check and they confirmed that, they did not check each individual food item as it falls outside their boundaries underlined in their bi-security checks.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is conducting an investigation following a complaint lodged by the Consumer Council of Fiji where 60 households in Navakai, Nadi, received expired food items through donations from a New Zealand organization following last month’s floods.

Some of the food items distributed to the flood victims had expired in 2001.