Federal Trade Minister Simon Crean has welcomed a breakthrough deal on banana imports into the European Union ending a dispute that has been running for 16 years.Mr Crean also welcomed a related agreement to provide deeper tariff cuts on the importation of tropical products into Europe, and other markets, which will benefit Australian exporters once the Doha Round is concluded. The minister said the deals on bananas and tropical products would generate much needed momentum towards concluding the... ...Read more »

Chiquita Brands International has shed more light on the latest EU probe into claims of a cartel in the banana industry by admitting it has received a notice regarding the investigation. The US-based fruit giant said it had been sent a “statement of objections” over the probe, which is looking into claims of a banana cartel in southern Europe. Chiquita said the claims centre on “activities alleged to have occurred” between July 2004 and January 2006. Last year, the company... ...Read more »

Banana growers have won their wish for a dancing banana to be stripped from an advertisement promoting Wrigley chewing gum. The ad, promoting plaque-fighting gum, groups bananas in with sugary snacks – a link the industry was far from pleased with. As such, they filed a complaint with the Advertising Standards Bureau and even went as far as to boycott chewing gum. “In no way shape or form is the banana part of that family (“junk food”), or that group of what I see as bad... ...Read more »

The EU is investigating an alleged banana cartel in southern Europe – a year after finding companies including Dole Food Co. and Chiquita Brands International guilty of price-fixing in the north of the continent. The European Commission said that it has issued a “statement of objections” to “a number of companies active in the import and marketing of bananas” over claims of a cartel. The parties concerned, which according to a Commission spokesperson cannot be identified,... ...Read more »

Bananas are expected to resist the impact of the global financial crisis more than other agricultural commodities, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has said in a report.The UN agency predicts banana imports to decline slightly to 13.8 million tonnes in 2009, about 3.3% less than 2007. Banana imports by developed countries fell by 4.1%, 5.5% and 3.2% respectively. Developing countries on the other hand will continue to register an increase in demand for the fruit, with imports predicted... ...Read more »

The Australian banana industry is meeting with chewing gum maker Wrigley’s today over a dispute regarding an advertisement for chewing gum. The ad, promoting plaque-fighting gum, groups bananas in with sugary snacks – a link the industry is far from pleased with. As such, they filed a complaint with the Advertising Standards Bureau and have even gone as far as to boycott chewing gum. The banana industry has spent millions promoting the health benefits of their product and believe the... ...Read more »

A Biosecurity Australia (BA) decision in early March recommending that Cavendish bananas from the Philippines be allowed to enter Australia continues to draw a worried reaction from many stakeholders concerned with protecting a major Australian industry. The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) and Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) have come out strongly in opposition to the move. Banana farmers, workers and local business people will hold a demonstration in Cairns; the IGA chain of... ...Read more »

A Federal Government decision to allow bananas to be imported from the Philippines has been met with great concern by growers and the Queensland Government, while a leading supermarket chain has announced they will endeavour to avoid the imported bananas. With the bulk of banana production in Queensland, the state would be the hardest hit by Biosecurity Australia’s final decision to allow bananas to be imported from the Philippines, according to peak horticulture organisation Growcom. Chief... ...Read more »

The Australian Banana Growers Council has advised that far north Queensland banana growers have resumed normal supply following the recent torrential monsoon rain and floods that played havoc with the transport of all goods, including bananas, in and out of tropical regions north of Ingham. Australian Banana Growers Council president Nicky Singh said the disruption to banana supplies was relatively short-lived. “The industry is very appreciative of the support it has received from consumers... ...Read more »

Peak horticulture organisation Growcom remains alarmed that Biosecurity Australia has agreed to allow bananas to be imported from the Philippines due to their concern of a risk of diseases such as Moko, Black Sigatoka and Freckle to the Australian banana industry. Chief Advocate Mark Panitz said that he was not confident that the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) could adequately protect the industry under the terms required by the Import Risk Aanalysis (IRA) due to the nature of these... ...Read more »