By Romy Cayabyab

Last month, the Australian government decided that the country can now import Cavendish bananas from the Philippines.

Philippine banana imports

The decision made through Biosecurity Australia, the Commonwealth’s agency responsible for undertaking science-based, quarantine-related risk analyses called Import Risk Analyses (IRA), has opened up a market that Philippine banana growers have sought to enter since 1995.

In its determination statement, Biosecurity said banana imports from the Philippines may be permitted subject to phytosanitary measures. These measures according to the determination are designed to limit quarantine risk to an acceptably low level which would assure protection to Australia.

Biosecurity further stated:

A detailed operational work plan between Australia and the Philippines will now be developed. This will need to be approved by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service before any import permits for bananas from the Philippines into Australia will be considered.

The operational work plan is yet to be developed. Nevertheless, the Australian government’s decision had, according to reports, “sparked an angry backlash among Australian growers and has become a campaign issue in the Queensland election.”

Last week, it was also reported that Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, was severely criticised for serving Philippine bananas on some international flights.

Qantas, according to reports, may be facing a boycott from Australian banana growers on account of this in-flight menu. As of this writing, we have not seen a public statement issued by Qantas in this regard.

Whilst we understand the position of Australian growers, in our view the current mood of not allowing Philippine banana imports into the country despite the issuance of a determination now focuses on the extent of reliance that can be placed on Biosecurity, and on the effectiveness of Australian quarantine measures, in being able to provide quarantine border protection to the country.

During the more than 10 years of fight over Philippine banana imports, and even to the present, Biosecurity’s role has never been an easy one to say the least.

As Mr Ian Macdonald, NSW minister for Primary Industries, said: “Biosecurity Australia (is) walking very fine line on Philippine banana import decision.”

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