Australia will not relax its banana import laws in response to Cyclone Yasi, the government has announced.
Australian minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry Joe Ludwig this week reassured the country's banana growers that banana imports will not be allowed to supplement severe domestic crop losses caused by last Thursday's tropical storm.
Cyclone Yasi devastated areas across northern Queensland on February 3, destroying an estimated 75 per cent of Australia's banana crop. Tully and Innisfail bore the brunt of the damage.
The Australian Banana Growers' Council (ABGC) said the industry was relieved there would be no compromise to the nation's strict quarantine risk analysis assessment, which protects Australia's pest and disease-free status.
'With 75 per cent of our industry currently affected by Cyclone Yasi, this has been an extremely difficult time for our growers,' ABGC president Cameron MacKay said in a press release.
'Banana imports are not permitted because of the associated pest and disease risks that are found in other major banana producing countries, therefore it is really important that banana plantations are back in production as soon as possible.'
Mr MacKay expects supplies to be disrupted for four months, while a return to full production could take up to a year.
'It is very important for our families, our workers, our economy and all Australian consumers that we get the mess cleared away as soon as possible, so that our crops can be replanted and buildings restored to be able to get fruit back on the shelves sooner rather than later,' said Mr MacKay.
The banana shortage could trigger a fivefold increase in Australian banana retail prices over the coming months, according to Australian media reports.
