Samoa enters the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on the 10th of May as the trading organisation's 155th member, meaning that within 12 months the prohibition on turkey tails shall be lifted clearing the path for foreign imports.
As a transitional measure, the domestic sale of turkey tails and turkey tail products will be banned, and an import duty of 300% will be placed. The reasoning behind this high tariff is that it will give the island nation time to set up programmes, in cooperation with the WHO, promoting healthier life styles.
Turkey tails are fatty cut offs popular in Third World countries, and appear correlated with poor health and obesity.
After two years, the transition period will be phased out, the domestic ban lifted, and the import tariff be lowered to 100%.