Farmers slam government over banana import review

NSW Farmers has slammed a review into banana imports the peak body says could “devastate the industry and put the nation’s biosecurity at risk”.

Last week the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) announced a review of quarantine arrangements for bananas imported from the Philippines into Australia.

“We are conducting an assessment of alternative measures for the importation of fresh Cavendish bananas from the Philippines for human consumption,” the DAFF announcement stated.

“This is in response to the Philippines’ formal request for Australia to consider alternative measures to manage the main pathogens of concern identified in the 2008 import risk analysis for bananas from the Philippines.

“We remain committed to upholding Australia’s biosecurity status and protecting domestic industries from pest and disease threats.

“We will only agree to alternative measures if our assessment concludes the measures effectively manage the biosecurity risks associated with importing bananas from the Philippines to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection.”

NSW Farmers member and Coffs Harbour banana grower Paul Shoker said the news of the assessment was a kick in the guts for Australia’s $1.3 billion banana industry.

“Australia’s banana growers produce enough fresh, tasty fruit for the whole nation, so there’s no need to import bananas from other countries, and risk bringing in a long list of exotic pests and diseases with them,” Mr Shoker said.

“It only takes one slipup, and we’ve got a pest or disease spreading through the landscape, devastating family farms and stripping livelihoods from hardworking Australians.

“More than 90 percent of the fresh food we eat here in Australia is domestically produced, so if exotic pests and disease enter the nation and decimate our farms, then the reality is we’ll be looking for something to eat.”

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) has also strongly opposed the proposal, stating that imports are “unnecessary and pose unacceptable risks to our growers, our industry, and our communities”.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Australia remains free of the world’s most devastating banana diseases and our strong biosecurity status is crucial.

“If Australia must assess the import of bananas under international law, it is of great concern that Labor’s import risk assessment process does not include the oversight of a Scientific Advisory Group, as recommended by the Inspector-General in March 2025,” Mr Littleproud said.

“In addition, the process does not allow an appeal process, which was the case in the 2008 import risk assessment of bananas from the Philippines.

“If this process must go ahead, we need a full Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis under the Biosecurity Act.

“This will allow for a Scientific Advisory Group and an option for stakeholders to request the Inspector-General of Biosecurity to review a provisional report.”

According to DAFF, the assessment will involve:

● a comprehensive scientific assessment for the three main pathogens of concern (Moko, black Sigatoka and banana freckle) and consideration of risk management measures alternative to those proposed in the 2008 import risk analysis

● a review of the 2008 import risk analysis to ensure the assessments of other pests are still appropriate and determine whether any new biosecurity risks have emerged since 2008

● consideration of the Philippines’ request for access for an additional cultivar ‘GCTCV-218’ (also known as ‘Formosana’), and an additional export province, Davao de Oro in the Davao Region or Region 11, that were not assessed in the 2008 import risk analysis.