^{Thursday 17 May 2012, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji}

Delegates to the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) meeting in French Polynesia last week witnessed a colourful traditional ceremony to present the official handbook of the Pacific region’s newest organic Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)  Bio Fetia to POETCom for assessment and  accreditation . The handbook was presented by organic farmer and President of the PGS, Dimitri Temeharo, to the Associate Minister of Agriculture from the Cook Islands, Hon. Kiariau Turepu, who accepted it on behalf of POETCom.

^{16 May 2012, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji}

Solomon Islands is on track to consider human rights-based national HIV legislation aimed at halting new infections and ensuring the rights of affected people. The Solomon Islands HIV Legislative Working Group will present a cabinet paper to the Solomon Islands National AIDS Council (SINAC) on 29 May for endorsement. SINAC, which is chaired by Charles Sigoto MP, Minister for Health and Medical Services, may then submit the paper to cabinet for review in June. If this process is successful, national consultations with beneficiaries, stakeholders and service providers will follow and parliament is expected to consider legislation in the later part of 2012.