The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee report into The Philippines banana import risk analysis released on Thursday said that before any permit to import is granted, the risk management measures and operation plan must be subject to independent scrutiny.

Australian Banana Growers’ Council imports spokesman Len Collins welcomed the Senate report because until now industry concerns about the IRA process have fallen on deaf ears.

“The report is an indictment on the way this banana import risk assessment has been conducted. It highlights the complete lack of details about how quarantine risks will be overcome in commercial conditions and the lack of procedural fairness afforded to stakeholders,” Mr Collins said.

“The Senate committee has affirmed industry’s view that the actual pest risk management measures that will be applied to imports will be proposed by the Philippines – which is effectively handing responsibility for our quarantine requirements to another country.

“This Senate report shows democracy at work because the problem has been that there is no one other than Biosecurity Australia to which you can take legitimate complaints about the conduct of the process – this is effectively Ceasar judging Ceasar.

“This is not just industry posturing – we have real issues with the way BA has managed key aspects of the process and it has taken a Senate inquiry to have our voice heard.”

The committee has recommended that the Senate order that, prior to the approval of any import permits being granted, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, in consultation with Biosecurity Australia, shall provide the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee with a report on specifics of Philippines risk measures and their compliance monitoring procedures.