Philippines banana imports may pose biosecurity risk

The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has announced a review of quarantine arrangements following a formal request from the Philippines to consider alternate measures to allow fresh banana imports into Australia.

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) has strongly opposed this proposal, saying imports are unnecessary and would create unacceptable risks for the industry.

The requested review centres on two main pathogens (crop diseases) of concern that are present in the Philippines and not in Australia — Moko and Black Sigatoka.

There will be a period of uncertainty while this review takes place.

The council will liaise with the federal government, following its stance that:

• Australia does not need banana imports;
• Australian growers produce more than enough high-quality fruit to supply the entire domestic market, year-round;
• imports create unacceptable risks;
• allowing bananas from overseas opens the door to exotic diseases that could devastate farms, families and regional communities.

The banana industry is worth $1.3 billion annually, supporting more than 540 growers and 18,000 jobs. Unlike many countries, Australia remains free from many banana diseases.

The federal government will hold information meetings with banana growers in October in Northern Queensland and Northern New South Wales. More information will be made available by the federal department on the locations and dates of these meetings.

The next steps in the review process involve a technical, science-based assessment visit to the Philippines to assess conditions on the ground. This is scheduled to take place later this year.

The outcomes of that visit will be provided to the government, which will measure the biosecurity risks associated with any importation of bananas from the Philippines to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection.

Following the technical visit report, the next step is the release of an issues paper to industry in the first half of 2026.

The federal government will use the issues paper to consult with industry and allow industry to have input into this process sometime during 2026.

Image credit: iStock.com/Nikada. Photographed in Siquijor, Philippines.