North Queensland's banana industry has been stunned by Biosecurity Australia's decision to allow the importation of bananas from The Philippines.
State Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin has described the decision by Biosecurity Australia to allow banana imports from The Philippines as "ill advised and just plain wrong".
"I have telephoned my federal counterpart Tony Burke to register Queensland's anger at this decision," Mr Mulherin said.
"The Queensland Government appealed against the importation of bananas on the basis that the import risk analysis undertaken by Biosecurity Australia failed to properly consider the risks of pests and disease.
"Our appeal was rejected.
"We are being told that bananas imported from The Philippines will be subject to strict quarantine testing for pests and diseases both in the Philippines and Australia.
"But that is beside the point ... these bananas should not be imported in the first place."
The Senate has referred the importation of Cavendish bananas from The Philippines' to the Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport.
Nationals Senator Ron Boswell says the decision puts at risk the domestic industry, which is worth $350 million a year and employs more than 5000 people.
"Biosecurity has advised that a detailed operation work plan between Australia and The Philippines will be developed to allow the importation of bananas from The Philippines. This will need to be approved by AQIS before any import permits will be approved," Senator Boswell said.
He said that unless rigorous standards were applied to the importation of bananas, the industry would be threatened by diseases such as black sigatoka, freckle and moko.
"On November 13, 2008, I asked a question in the Senate to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and was told bananas could enter Australia under strict quarantine measures relating to seven groups of pests of quarantine concern. These measures included:
* sourcing bananas from demonstrated low pest areas;
* field inspections audited by AQIS;
* disinfection treatments;
* mandatory preclearance of fruit by AQIS inspectors in The Philippines;
* a combination of laboratory and field experiments prior to any exports occurring.
"I was also told that AQIS officers would be involved in the inspecting, verifying, auditing of systems and processes in The Philippines both before and during the exporting of bananas.
"There would be mandatory preclearance arrangements with the presence and involvement of AQIS inspectors in the Philippines in applying quarantine conditions in the field, including in the packing houses.
"There would also be auditing and verification by AQIS of systems and processes used by the Philippines to certify any exports. Also the Philippine exporters will be responsible for reimbursing the full cost of AQIS inspections."
A Senate Inquiry hearing is to take place on the issue next week, and Senator Boswell says he intends to hold both AQIS and Biosecurity Australia to these answers given to the Senate.
"The process required to ensure that disease is not imported into Australia is not going to be a simple matter of faxes and letters between Australia and The Philippines. We will demand AQIS inspectors on the ground in the Philippines and the costs to be met," he said.
Email a friend