On December 13, the French Polynesian Assembly passed a law to reform regulations in the pearl farming sector. On June 28, the State Council issued a significant decision, approving most of the law while rejecting four articles concerning jewelry artisans. Consequently, the law will be promulgated before July 10 without these contested provisions.
This ruling follows a legal challenge by Pearly Investissements. Tearii Alpha, Minister of Primary Resource Development, clarified that despite the rejection of four articles, the law will still be enacted within the next ten days. The government has pledged swift action to implement the reform starting in July.
Concurrently, new legislation will be introduced to regulate street vending around markets, aiming to organize this sector while protecting jewelry artisans’ livelihoods. The reform’s overarching goals are to enhance the image of Tahitian cultured pearls, professionalize the industry, and establish strict resource management rules.
Minister Alpha emphasized the importance of tracking nuclei from production to exported pearls to streamline export procedures. The law will also introduce quotas, environmental and health standards, and transparency requirements for traders. Despite the partial rejection, the minister expressed satisfaction with the State Council’s decision and announced awareness campaigns in pearl-producing islands to prepare professionals for the sector’s reorganization.
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