The Fiji Daily Post reports that Rooster Poultry joins an elite group of companies worldwide that have reached the highest standards of food safety set by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

It is the only poultry business in Fiji with this premium stamp of quality. ISO, based in Geneva, is the foremost international standards developer. It comprises a network of national standards institutes from 157 countries.

Hank Arts, Rooster Poultry's General Manager, said this is a ground-breaking achievement that makes the company a front-runner in a vital area of the food industry in Fiji.

It demonstrated a commitment to the welfare of customers and their families in managing and eliminating food safety hazards.

"Every part of the Rooster Poultry processing procedure – including hygiene, cleanliness, maintenance, slaughter, refrigeration, storage and training – had to conform to ISO 22000 requirements," he said.

"It took nearly three years to prepare for the assessment and a year for classification to be granted by independent auditors from overseas.

"Food safety is a growing concern of the people of Fiji. This is linked to frequent international food scares and scandals and the risks of contamination that can have tragic and even fatal results."

Local food companies, Mr Arts said, have a responsibility to do all they could to avoid the dangers of tainted products.

Owned by Colonial Fiji Life, Rooster Poultry operates a state-of-the-art integrated enterprise with about 250 employees. It has the processing centre, a broiler farm and stock feed plant at Navau, and farms for breeding and rearing at Qalitu and Tavarau.

The company makes further contributions to the regional economy through purchase of chickens from contract farmers.

There is a hatchery at Lautoka and a distribution depot at Vatuwaqa in Suva. Since acquiring the business in 2006, Colonial has invested many millions of dollars to upgrade infrastructure and build new facilities, concludes the Fiji Daily Post report.