The long wait for Philippine banana imports
Australia’s banana farmers will know within the next few weeks if they have been successful in their six-and-a-half year battle to keep Philippine bananas out of Australia.
Biosecurity Australia reported last month that it had completed a draft final Import Risk Analysis (IRA) report, now with an independent team of scientists for review.
The review group has up to 60 days to establish if Biosecurity Australia has properly taken into account all stakeholders comments in finalising its risk analysis and policy recommendations.
It is expected that the review will be completed by the end of this month, after which the report goes back to Biosecurity Australia who will put out the final report.
Subject of the long drawn and hotly-contested IRA are 100,000 tonnes of Philippine bananas proposed for import into Australia annually.
Import of Philippine bananas was initially declined by Biosecurity Australia in June 2002. About 18 months later, the original findings were revised to allow banana imports from the Philippines subject to strict quarantine conditions.
Between February 2004 and August 2008, a series of consultations with stakeholders, field inspections and technical assessments had been carried out by Biosecurity Australia to establish a final import risk analysis report. #
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