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Manila goes bananas over ban
15 Jul 2003
The Philippines has formally lodged an application with the World Trade Organisation to overturn a ban on Filipino bananas and paw paws coming into Australia. In its application, the Philippines states that Australia is in breach of international quarantine trading regulations. It also states that Australia's quarantine system is not scientifically based and not in line with international standards.
Australia maintains it is unsafe to bring the fruit into the country because of certain diseases, such as freckle and moko, which are endemic in the Philippines.
Jessica Hitchings, chairwoman of the Innisfail Banana Growers' Association, says if the Filipino diseases entered Australia they would do enormous damage to the domestic banana industry. Even within Australia there are quarantine systems in place to prevent the spread of disease between banana-growing regions, she said. "Our quarantine is not a trade barrier; it is keeping out diseases and we need that regulation".
Tradingroom.com.au, 14/7/03.
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