Tough conditions will "put the brakes" in Australia on Filipino banana imports

The final report of recommendations to the Senate regarding the importation of Cavendish bananas from the Philippines have been tabled in Federal Parliament.

 

 

A Senate committee has recommended that a permit should not be granted until risk management measures and workplans are independently scrutinised.

 

 

National Party Senator and committee member Ron Boswell said it will take at least two years to develop the protocols required, and some of the stipulations will be costly for potential importers.

 

 

"The brakes have been put on. The requirements are going to be very strict and very severe and very costly," he said.

 

 

"That's not to give a guarantee that bananas will never be brought in, but I think it will be very expensive, very costly."