Final import risk analysis report on Philippine bananas now released

Biosecurity Australia has recently issued a final import risk analysis report allowing Philippine cavendish bananas to enter Australia subject to the Philippines meeting stringent quarantine measures.

“The final IRA report is a comprehensive, science based analysis that reflects Australia’s conservative approach to quarantine,” Biosecurity reported.

The quarantine measures contained in the final IRA include banana export sources being restricted to areas that only demonstrate low pest prevalence, registration of banana export blocks as well as inspection and verification by Australian quarantine officers of Philippine export systems and processes.

Biosecurity reported that stakeholders have 30 days until 12 December 2008 within which they can appeal to an independent Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel.

The basis for an appeal is that the final IRA’s procedures are significantly deviating from the process set out in the 2003 IRA handbook or that a significant body of scientific information relevant to the analysis outcome was not considered.

Following the appeal process, the final report and recommendations will be provided to Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine to make a quarantine policy determination on bananas.

The issue of the final IRA had long been in the waiting.

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.

Last August, Biosecurity issued a status report that the final import risk analysis report had been completed and referred to an independent Eminent Scientists Group for review.

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Short URL: http://www.thefilipinoaustralian.com/news/?p=178

Posted by TFA News Research on Nov 20 2008. Filed under Business, Philippines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry