Import Risk Analysis (IRA) on Fresh

Banana Fruit from the Philippines

Report of Visit of Chairs of Technical Working

Groups to the Philippines in August 2001
Released in April 2002

A G R I C U L T U R E , F I S H E R I E S A N D F O R E S T R Y - A U S T R A L I A
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PURPOSE ....................................................................................................................4
BACKGROUND ...........................................................................................................4
KEY POINTS ................................................................................................................5
Indications of Philippines' high priority for banana exports and commitment to contribute scientific
and technical input to the IRA............................................................................................................................5
Clarification of export areas ...............................................................................................................................6
Clarification of exports of Gros Michel............................................................................................................7
Quarantine requirements for imports and exports...........................................................................................7
Imports...............................................................................................................................................................7
Exports...............................................................................................................................................................7
Pesticides................................................................................................................................................................8
Fungicide resistance management .....................................................................................................................8
Environmental regulations..................................................................................................................................8
Quality Assurance................................................................................................................................................9
Occupational Health and Safety.........................................................................................................................9
Stakeholder meetings...........................................................................................................................................9
Visit to tissue culture laboratory/nursery .........................................................................................................9
Visits to commercial plantations......................................................................................................................10
Visits to packhouses...........................................................................................................................................12
Visit to a wharf....................................................................................................................................................13
Technical discussions........................................................................................................................................13
Moko and bugtok................................................................................................................................................14
Banana bract mosaic virus ................................................................................................................................14
Fruit flies ..............................................................................................................................................................15
Scales, s, whiteflies and mites ..........................................................................................................................15
Seed in Cavendish bananas...............................................................................................................................15
Attachment 1 ............................................................................................................. 16
Schedule of visit to the Philippines .................................................................................................................16
Attachment 2 ............................................................................................................. 19
Key participants in the TWG Chairs’ visit to the Philippines.....................................................................19
Attachment 3 ............................................................................................................. 22
List of Questions*..............................................................................................................................................22
REPORT OF VISIT OF CHAIRS OF TECHNICAL WORKING
GROUPS TO THE PHILIPPINES

PURPOSE
• To provide a report of travel to the Philippines from 5-11 August 2001 by the
Chairs of the three Technical Working Groups (TWGs) concerning the import risk
analysis (IRA) on the importation of fresh banana fruit from the Philippines.

BACKGROUND
• Biosecurity Australia is conducting an IRA on the importation of fresh banana
fruit (bananas) from the Philippines (please refer to the Issues Paper released in
May 2001).

• On 20 April 2001, Secretary Leonardo Montemayor, Department of Agriculture,

Philippines, sent an invitation to Plant Biosecurity, Canberra, Australia, for two
risk analysis panel (RAP) members to cond uct a technical study tour in the
Philippines to assist the panel understand the key pests and possible control
programs in the Philippines.

• On 17 May 2001, Plant Biosecurity responded to Secretary Montemayor's

invitation and proposed a visit to the Philippines by the Chairs of the three
Technical Working Groups (TWGs).

• Secretary Montemayor subsequently wrote to Dr Stynes on 21 June welcoming

the proposed visit.

• The TWG Chairs: Dr Sharan Singh, TWG1 (Pathogens); Mr Bob Paton, TWG2
(Arthropods) and Mr David Peasley, TWG3 (Horticulture, Environment and
Operations) visited the Philippines.

• Stakeholders were consulted on a list of key activities of TWG Chairs, including a

list of questions for the Philippines, during the visit (please refer to Plant
Biosecurity Policy Memorandum 2001/14 of 27 July 2001; available from
www.affa.gov.au/plantcra).

• This report is based on visits by the TWG Chairs observations of banana

plantations, packhouses and laboratories and information provided by Philippine
experts and stakeholders during many discussions (Attachment 1 & 2). Any
extrapolation beyond the observations and discussions of the TWG Chairs during
the visit should be made with caution. At the request of the TWG Chairs, the
Philippines allowed them to take pictures for viewing by other Risk Analysis
Panel members. The Philippines advised the TWG Chairs that they have
previously had bad experiences with people taking pictures and then using these
out of context for giving bad publicity to the Philippines. The TWG Chairs
assured the Philippines that they would be careful with the interpretation of any
pictures taken during the visit.

4 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

KEY POINTS

Indications of Philippines' high priority for banana exports

and commitment to contribute scientific and technical input to
the IRA
• The Philippines indicated in clear terms that their proposal to export bananas to
Australia is a matter of high importance for their government. Secretary
Montemayor has engaged the government officials and private sector to
expedite this issue by responding to Australian requests for technical
information as a matter of high priority. Secretary Montemayor opened the
discussions in Manila on 7 August and also attended a dinner function in Davao
on 10 August with Australian and Philippine technical experts and quarantine
officials. He advised the TWG Chairs that their President, Ms Arroyo is very
interested in this matter and that she was pleased that this visit was taking place.
Dr Sharan Singh advised Secretary Montemayor that Australia has accorded
high priority for this project and the RAP's recommendations to AFFA will be
based on sound science.

• Secretary Montemayor hoped that the RAP's visit to the Philippines would
enable the IRA to be completed on schedule by June 2002, or even earlier if
possible. Dr Sharan Singh advised Secretary Montemayor that the TWG Chairs
hope to collect much technical information during this visit and the availability
of information would determine the timing of completion of the IRA.

• In the time available during the visit, the Philippines provided a very
comprehensive coverage of laboratory, nursery, plantations, packhouse and
transport procedures and also arranged our meetings with many Philippine
experts on bananas.

• Philippines provided documentation to the TWG Chairs consisting of:

- Philippines banana industry profile;

- curriculum vitae of nine members of the Industry Task Force;
- fact sheets for 11 arthropod pests, two bacteria, four fungi, three viruses
and two weed species (these data sheets were prepared at short notice
and would require further work particularly in light of discussions
during the visit);
- names of research organisations in Mindanao;
- Administrative Order No. 14 concerning regulations governing Inter-
Provincial Quarantine on all plants of Musa spp.;
- Pesticide Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines; and
- a copy of a technical bulletin, "The Philippines Recommends for
Bananas".

• The Philippine authorities agreed to provide written responses to the RAP's 43

questions that they had received from Australia in advance of the visit. They
also agreed to provide written responses to supplementary questions, which

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 5

 were raised by the TWG Chairs during this visit. A revised list of questions
(Attachment 3), including supplementary questions was later submitted to the
Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Blo Umpar Adiong. BPI subsequently
provided responses to these questions. The BPI answers to these questions are
posted on Biosecurity Australia’s website (www.affa.gov.au/plantcra). Some of
the BPI answers beg further questions, which will be put to the Philippines
shortly.

• The TWG Chairs sought clarification from the Philippine experts of many
issues concerning key pests and diseases of bananas, eg, Moko, bugtok, black
Sigatoka, freckle, banana bract mosaic virus, fruit flies, mealybugs, scale insects
and whiteflies. They identified and discussed gaps in information for key pests
and diseases. The Philippine experts were keen to discuss these issues and
address gaps in information by providing further information, including research
on certain issues. The TWG Chairs advised the Philippine experts that they had
no authority to commission the Philippines to conduct research. However, the
Philippines may choose to clarify certain areas by further research, eg. efficacy
of fruit disinfectants in killing surface-borne spores of pathogens such as the
black Sigatoka fungus; latency of freckle disease; and the likelihood of
dissemination of the freckle pathogen from fruit to banana plants, and
susceptibility of various stages of banana fruit to oviposition by fruit flies.

• The private and public sector in the Philippines are very interested in exports of
bananas to Australia and they are working cooperatively in progressing this
issue.

Clarification of export areas

• The Filipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA) and the
Banana Exporter Industry Foundation, Inc. (BEIF) had suggested in their
comments on the Issues Paper on the IRA on Philippines' banana that there have
been geographic subdivisions of production areas. They had stated that:

- Davao province now covers the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del
Sur, and Davao Oriental;
- Cotabato has now been divided to South Cotabato, North Cotabato,
Sarangani Province, Sultan Kudarat, and Maguindanao; and
- Bukidnon remains the same.

• The PBGEA and BEIF had also indicated that the provinces of Agusan del Sur
and Agusan del Norte should have been included in the IRA.

• At the discussions in Manila on 7 August, the Philippines banana industry

representatives indicated that they would like to include the provinces of Agusan
del Sur and Agusan del Norte in the IRA. Dr Sharan Singh advised them that BPI
should write formally to Biosecurity Australia if they wish to seek extension to the
proposed export areas.

• BPI advised us that the Philippines had developed their submission for export of
bananas to Australia in 1995 and they had overlooked incorporation of

6 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

 information on the geographic subdvisions of the new proposed export areas in
their latest submission of May 2000. They said their industry had not advised
them of their interest in exporting bananas from Agusan del Sur and Agusan del
Norte.

• Following further consideration of the issue, the Philippines advised the TWG
Chairs that they have decided at this stage against their industry proposal for
extension of exports to include Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte. They said
they would wait for a decision on the currently proposed export areas and consider
extensions to export areas at a later date.

Clarification of exports of Gros Michel

• The Philippines had nominated Gros Michel, within the cultivars proposed for
export to Australia. At the entry meeting it was clarified that Gros Michel is no
longer commercially grown in the Philippines and that they will not be exporting
Gros Michel to Australia. PBGEA and BEIF had also said this in their comments
on the Issues Paper. They said that the cultivation of Gros Michel in the
Philippines has phased out since the development of their initial export proposal.

Quarantine requirements for imports and exports

Imports
• BPI advised that Philippines does not import banana fruit from any country and
they will conduct risk analysis if they receive an application to import this
commodity. They said no one has considered exporting bananas to the Philippines
because they are one of the largest banana exporters in the world.

• BPI also advised that their import conditions for planting material are consistent
with the international guidelines for the movement of Musa germplasm. BPI
officials were aware of the risk of introduction of exotic pests and diseases, such
as blood disease from Indonesia.

• BPI agreed to provide documentation regarding their import conditions for banana
plants and fruit.

Exports
• BPI advised us that they are meeting the overseas countries' quarantine
requirements. Some countries, eg. Japan, Korea, New Zealand and China have
specific quarantine requirements while others have minimal quarantine
requirements, i.e., a phytosanitary certificate without any additional declarations.
They said Japan requires, among other things, on-arrival fumigation (subsequently
clarified the fumigation is with hydrogen cyanide) of imported consignments of
bananas infested with pests. The exporters advised the TWG Chairs that banana
fruit handles methyl bromide fumigation very well. They also said they were
considering the option of pre-export fumigation for the Japanese market.

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 7

• BPI said they have had very little quarantine problems with banana exports; the
importing countries sometimes report interceptions of scale insects, mealybugs,
whiteflies and mites. They said mainly New Zealand was reporting interceptions
to BPI and there were some interceptions (scales and mealybugs, etc) by Japan
and China. We said Australia has already obtained New Zealand interception
records.

• BPI said the Philippines has been exporting bananas for decades and fruit flies
were never intercepted in any consignment.

• BPI agreed to provide Australia with overseas countries' import requirements for
bananas from the Philippines and also interception data. However, BPI officials
said that some of the import requirements were bilateral arrangements with other
countries and they were reluctant to release these documents.

Pesticides
• Philippines agreed to provide a list of pesticides registered for use in banana
plantations and the commonly used pesticide application schedules.

Fungicide resistance management

• The private companies producing Cavendish bananas in the Philippines use the
guidelines of the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) to manage
development of resistance in the black Sigatoka fungus. The protectant and
systemic fungicide sprays are alternated to minimise build up of black Sigatoka
resistance. Resistance monitoring results are used to decide if some fungicides
should be withdrawn from spray schedules. The TWG Chairs were advised by the
Philippine experts that if the re is any evidence of build up of resistance to a
fungicide in a plantation then that fungicide is not used for one to three years and
reintroduced only if and when the resistant population has declined. They were
also advised that the Philippines has not lost any fungicide from their armour
against foliar diseases and that the full suite of internationally recommended
fungicides is still available to them.

Environmental regulations
• Philippines agreed to provide information concerning their environmental
legislation, particularly the Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC)
requirements for banana plantations. The commercial plantation managers are
aware of their role in the protection of the environment and were taking steps to
minimise environmental damage by measures such as treatment of water before
disposal to the rivers and creeks, minimisation of pesticide applications and soil
erosion control.

• Commercial banana plantations are following the environmental standard, ISO

14001 to address environmental issues.

8 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

Quality Assurance
• As the fruit produced in commercial plantations is almost exclusively intended for
exports, including the fastidious Japanese market, quality assurance systems are
rigorously followed in commercial banana plantations and during fruit cleaning,
sorting, inspection, packing and transport.

• The commercial plantations use quality assurance systems, mainly ISO 9002, and
one company was moving to SQF 2000. The companies can trace-back non-
compliance to the individual packer, packing line, date of packing and the time of
the day of packing.

Occupational Health and Safety

• The private companies in the Philippines were aware of the occupational health
and safety (OH&S) issues and appeared to take pride in caring for their workers.

• Private company personnel told us that the OH&S issues are also covered in the
ISO 14001.

• The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) approves pesticide applicators,

trained in the safe use of chemicals.

Stakeholder meetings
• The TWG Chairs met with key stakeholders everyday in the evening on 7-10
August and held a broader stakeholder meeting in Davao on 10 August
(Attachment 1). At the broader stakeholder meeting the key issues discussed
were:

- Australia's quarantine policy, including conservatively high appropriate

level of protection (ALOP);
- the Quarantine Act, regulations and the Quarantine Proclamation
- the World Trade Organization agreement on the application of sanitary
and phytosanitary measures (the SPS agreement);
- the IRA process, including coverage of routine and non-routine pathways;
- ongoing review of the IRA process;
- status report on the Philippine banana IRA, including steps already
completed and further steps in the process; and
- comments from the Philippines and Australian stakeholders on the Issues
Paper.

Visit to tissue culture laboratory/nursery

• The TWG Chairs visited a tissue culture laboratory and a tissue culture nursery
and observed procedures for the production of high health tissue cultured
plantlets (commonly known as seedlings in the Philippines).

- This facility is capable of producing approximately 14 million seedlings

per year.

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 9

 - The laboratory employs 160 tissue culture technicians.
- The selection of high health suckers and inspection of resultant plantlets
and plants is an essential part of the process to ensure freedom of tissue
cultures from virus diseases.
- The use of tissue cultures is increasing. A large private company
currently grows 50 per cent of its plantations as annual plantations derived
from tissue cultured plantlets and is planning to increase this figure to 100
per cent by year 2005.
- Annual plantings produce fruit in less than a year, about 9 -10 months.
Following fruit harvest, the plants are disced into the ground and the field
is replanted.
- We were advised that the incidence of diseases is much lower in annual
plantations and pesticide use for the control of black Sigatoka is reduced
by 35 - 40 per cent in annual plantations as compared with traditional,
perennial plantations.

Visits to commercial plantations

• The TWG Chairs observed a range of banana plantations in Davao, Bukidnon
and Cotabato (Attachment 1) and developed an understanding of the situation of
important pests and diseases.

• The commercial plantations are well managed and regularly monitored,

including weekly surveys, for pests and diseases in a professional manner. The
TWG Chairs observed that pest and disease monitoring records were kept.
They were told that some well- managed commercial plantations are as old as 31
years.

• The TWG Chairs were advised by the Philippine experts that the following are
part and parcel of the regular farm practices in commercial banana plantations
and trained workers conduct these operations paying attention to avoid the
spread of Moko during operations involving cutting and injection of plant parts:

- manual de-suckering to manage population density and fruit size and

quality;
- de-leafing of older, lower leaves to particularly reduce the inoculum
threshold of foliar pathogens;
- propping of plants to protect against wind damage;
- bell injection to control thrips,
- fruit bagging to control pests and diseases;
- de-flowering to minimise marking of fruit by hard dried floral remnants;
- pesticide sprays of plantations to control foliar diseases, particularly black
Sigatoka;
- fruit dusting or sprays to control pests and diseases;
- pest and disease monitoring at weekly intervals; and
- eradication of Moko and banana bunchy top virus infected plants, if these
diseases are detected.

• Farm workers routinely disinfect cutting, pruning and injecting tools by dipping
these in formalin solution to prevent spread of Moko. A dye, crystal violet is

10 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

 added to the solution to check that the workers are regularly disinfecting the
tools.

• In some plantations, pseudostem de-sheathing is conducted to control

mealybugs and scale insects.

• In commercial plantations, with the exception of organic banana plantations,

pesticide sprays are applied to control banana pests and diseases, usually
including aerial sprays. Ground sprays are used on some farms to address the
sensitivity of local environmental concerns. Banana bunches are also treated 2-
3 times with pesticides.

• Thrips, Moko and black Sigatoka are among the most important pests and
diseases that require the bulk of the pest and disease control measures used on
banana plantations.

• Early detection and destruction of infected plants can contain Moko but its
control is variable depending on the plantation operations. In an annual
plantation of 250 ha, two plants infected with Moko were found more than a
year ago. By contrast a 150 ha perennial plantation had experienced 15 cases of
Moko last year.

• Moko sites are treated in at least three different ways:

- removal of infected plants and other plants within about 5 m buffer and
on-site slow burning by adding rice husks as the fuel for fire;
- removal of infected plants and other plants within a buffer area, treatment
of infected sites with formaldehyde; or
- removal of infected plants and other plants in a buffer area and treatment
with a soil fumigant, Basamid (active ingredient, dazomet).

• The size of the buffer area surrounding the Moko infected plants is variable in
different plantations.

• In all Moko cases, the infested sites including the buffer area are cordoned off
as a measure to prevent spread of the disease with movement of soil on farm
workers shoes, etc. The time of fallowing, before replanting on infected sites,
depends on the treatment and farm practices. Some farms fallow for up to one
year. We were told that it was safe to replant after 45 days of treatment by rice
husk burning or Basamid treatment.

• All commercial plantations take precautions to prevent transmission of Moko by

disinfecting pruning and injecting tools before and after use. A dye is added to
the disinfectant to monitor that the workers are routinely disinfecting these
tools.

• The TWG Chairs were advised of some incidences where disgruntled workers
had attempted to sabotage plantations by introducing Moko but such situations
were addressed by early detection through regular surveys and eradication

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 11

 action. Moko is easily detectable on young suckers and such suckers are
destroyed immediately after detection during regular surveys.

• The frequency of pesticide sprays of commercial plantations against leaf

diseases, primarily black Sigatoka, varies from plantation to plantation but
perennial crops are generally sprayed at weekly to 10-day intervals.

• Some companies have adopted annual cropping as a cultural control measure to

reduce pesticide usage. The use of pesticide sprays is reduced by 35 to 40
percent in annual crops derived from tissue cultured plantlets. We were advised
that a private company is growing organic bananas in an annual plantation with
zero pesticide sprays but additional cultural practices, including severe de-
leafing, are required to control black Sigatoka.

• The incidence of black Sigatoka was variable depending on the control

measures and climatic conditions. In some plantations black Sigatoka was not
apparent; some plantations were lightly infected; and in one plantation the
disease severity and incidence was very high on lower leaves.

• Freckle was observed in one of the commercial plantations of Cavendish

(cultivars, Tall Williams and Grand Nain) and was much less damaging as
compared with black Sigatoka that was also prevalent in the same plantation.
The TWG Chairs did not find freckle symptoms on banana fruit in this or any
other commercial plantations. They were advised by the Philippine experts that
fungicides sprays used for black Sigatoka control are also effective against
freckle and no additional measures are required for freckle control. The TWG
Chairs were also advised that freckle can infect fruit in poorly managed
plantations but a zero tolerance applies to freckle on export fruit.

• Freckle is the most prevale nt disease in backyard bananas (local cultivars) and is
frequently accompanied by the black cross disease.

• In some plantations, banana bunches are treated to control pitmark (Pyricularia

grisea) and diamond spot (Cercospora hayi).

• Banana bunchy top is present in commercial plantations but its incidence is kept
at very low levels by regular destruction of infected plants, if detected in routine
surveys.

• The Philippine industry representatives advised the TWG Chairs that all
commercial plantations were free from banana bract mosaic and banana mosaic
virus. This issue requires further clarification.

Visits to packhouses
• The TWG Chairs also observed packhouse operations in Davao, Bukidnon and
Cotabato (Attachment 1), including procedures used to ensure high quality of
fruit and freedom from pests, diseases, contaminants and hitchhikers.

12 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

 - Fruit is inspected on arrival by a quarantine inspector and the packhouse
employees for the presence of insect pests and diseases.
- Fruit bunches are washed and de- handed.
- The hands are placed in clean water baths.
- Packhouse workers throughout the packing chain remove poor quality
fruit.
- Banana hands are dipped in chlorine and alum bath.
- A quarantine inspector and the packhouse employees inspect hands again.
- Hands are placed in cardboard cartons; padding material, thin polystyrene
foam sheets, is inserted between fruit layers to provide protection against
fruit damage during long voyages to export destinations.
- Fruit for some markets are vacuum packed; all fruit in a carton is placed in
a polythene bag, the air is evacuated and the bag is closed. We were
advised that the procedure reduces the risk of fruit spoilage by microbial
contaminants. The likelihood of contamination by hitchhikers would also
be extremely low in fruit packed in this manner.
- Packhouses keep very good records and can trace back any non-
compliance to the packhouse line, packer and plantation.
- Packhouse workers and quarantine inspectors are trained for their
respective jobs and they were diligently performing their duties.

• The TWG Chairs also observed the operations of a mobile packhouse unit being
used for packing fruit in the field. This method of packing is used to prevent
bruising of very high quality fruit intended for export to the Japanese market.
Fruit is harvested, dehanded, manually carried to the mobile packhouse, washed,
inspected, treated and packed in cartons.

Visit to a wharf
• The TWG Chairs observed the pre-export random inspections by quarantine
staff for pests and diseases and fruit maturity, that was being assessed by using
callipers.

• They also observed fruit loading operations.

• A private sector expert told us that ship's hold is ozonised. He said this process
is highly effective in killing microorganisms, and hence prolonging the shelf life
of the fruit. We asked if data were available on the efficacy of this treatment in
killing banana pathogens such as black Sigatoka and freckle. He said he was
not aware of such data.

Technical discussions
• The TWG Chairs conducted discussions with Philippines private sector and
public sector experts. In the Philippines, most of the applied research work on
Cavendish bananas is conducted by the private sector, which has employed
qualified scientific and technical experts and established research facilities for,
among other things, monitoring of pesticide resistance and pesticide residues
and testing of efficacy of pesticides. The public scientists conduct academic

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 13

 and practical research and have developed expertise in banana diseases such as
banana bract mosaic, banana bunchy top virus, bugtok and Panama disease.

- The private sector may not provide commercial- in-confidence

information.

• TWG Chairs advised the Philippines officials and experts that if any relevant
information is not made available to the RAP then such information could not
be considered in the preparation of the IRA documents and the RAP will adopt a
conservative approach.

Moko and bugtok

• There appear to be two schools of thought on the causal agent of Moko and
bugtok.

- The older school of thought believes that Moko and bugtok are caused by
different strains of the bacterium, Ralstonia solanacearum because Moko
is found on Cavendish banana and is not insect-transmitted while bugtok
is found on local cultivars and is insect-transmitted. The TWG Chairs
were advised that there is no evidence of insect-transmission of bugtok
from backyard plants of local cultivars to commercial plantations of
Cavendish bananas.
- The second school of thought is saying that Moko and bugtok are caused
by the one and the same strain of R. solanacearum because the isolates of
bugtok and Moko are almost identical based on DNA analysis. Limited
cross inoculation experiments have indicated that bugtok isolates infect
young tissue cultured plantlets of Cavendish bananas. This issue needs
clarification and the Philippines agreed to provide further information.

• The Philippine scientists advised the TWG Chairs that strain B of the Moko
bacterium is recorded in the Philippines. The insect-transmitted, SFR strain has
not been recorded in the Philippines (SFR stands for small, fluidal, round
colonies in culture). They agreed to provide results of DNA tests on the
Philippines isolates.

Banana bract mosaic virus

• Philippines experts advised us that banana bract mosaic is current ly not found in
any commercial plantations.

• They also advised us that the likelihood of the virus occurring in banana fruit is
unknown but fruit symptoms have only rarely been found on heavily infected
plants.

• They said the possibility of transmission of banana bract mosaic virus from fruit
to plants is not an issue because the aphid vectors do not feed on banana fruit.

14 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

Fruit flies
• BPI advised us that Dr Dick Drew, an Australian expert has studied the fruit
flies in the Philippines, and the papaya fruit fly (Bactrocera papayae) does not
occur in the Philippines. Mr Bob Paton was to discuss this issue with Dr Drew.
BPI advised that Bactrocera philippinensis is the concern for ripe banana fruit.
Mr Paton indicated that Bactrocera occipitalis is also present in the Philippines
and would require further consideration.

Scales, mealybugs, whiteflies and mites

• The Philippines experts advised us that these pests are not a problem for banana
production but they are quarantine pests for some importing countries.

Seed in Cavendish bananas

• The Philippines experts said seed is not found in Cavendish bananas. They said
that artificial crosses of the Cavendish bananas with other types of bananas
would have been developed using embryo rescue technique. It was agreed that
we need to look at the work of the late Dr Phil Rowe to clarify this issue.

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 15

 ATTACHMENT 1
Schedule of visit to the Philippines
Saturday Travel to Manila
(4 Aug 2001)
Sunday TWG Chairs reviewed stakeholder comments on the Issues Paper and
(5 Aug 2001) prepared for meetings on 6 August.

Monday Manila
(6 Aug 2001)
Met with Ms Karen Gilmour from the Australian Embassy in Manila.

Participated in the entry meeting with the Bureau of Plant Industry and
Philippine industry representatives. Secretary Montema yor delivered the
welcome address and opened the discussions.

Met with the Philippine researchers and pest management specialists (e.g.,
horticulturists, entomologists, and pathologists with federal/state agencies,
universities, private companies) to discuss banana pests and diseases, and
to gather published and unpublished information on their biology, ecology,
and likelihood of transport and establishment in Australia. Discussed 43
questions and many supplementary questions (Attachment 3).

Discussed Philippines' technical market access submission with BPI

officials and Philippine industry representatives; clarified the scope of the
IRA; and identified further information requirements.

Philippine participants: Director Blo Umpar Adiong (BPI). Ms Estrella D.

Tuazon (BPI), Mr Larry Lacson (BPI); Dr Rene Espino (Department of
Agriculture); Dr Edwin Raros (Dole), Mr J.P. Silva (Marsman Drysdale
Agribusiness Group),

Tuesday Davao
(7 Aug 2001)
Observed tissue culturing laboratory procedures and a tissue culture
nursery. Discussed the role of tissue culture and other techniques in the
management of banana pests and diseases.

Observed two banana plantations and fruit handling procedures, including

rail system for transport of fruit from the field to the packhouse, fruit
inspections, dehanding, washing, treatment, packing and trace-back
systems. The first plantation was very large, approximately 5000-6000 ha,
and the second was a small operation of 150 ha.

Discussed pest and disease monitoring and management measures used in

banana plantations.

Observed operations at a wharf for fruit inspection and loading.

16 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

 Observed quarantine inspection procedures at a packhouse and the wharf.

Met with BPI and stakeholders and discussed impressions of visits to

plantations, tissue culture laboratory, nursery and the wharf.

Wednesday Comval/Davao
(8 Aug 2001) Aerial view of banana plantations visited on 7 August, including Moko
eradication sites.

Observed two large banana plantations, several hundred hectares each and
two packhouses.

Discussed pest and disease management measures used in banana

plantations.

Observed a simulation of Moko eradication.

Observed fruit handling procedures, including overhead butcher's rail

system for transport of fruit from the field to the packhouse, fruit
inspections, dehanding, washing, treatment, packing and trace-back
systems.

Observed quarantine inspection procedures.

Observed plants of local banana varieties in backyard situations with

symptoms of freckle and black cross diseases.

Observed entomology and plant pathology laboratory procedures and

discussed work on pesticide testing and black Sigatoka resistance
monitoring.

Met with BPI and stakeholders and discussed impressions of visits to

plantations, packhouses, backyard plants and laboratories.
Thursday Bukidnon
(9 Aug 2001)
Observed annual banana cropping practices and fruit handling procedures,
including a mobile packhouse.

Discussed the advantages of annual cropping over conventional plantations,

particularly differences in pest and disease prevalence and management
measures.

Discussed pest and disease management measures used in banana

plantations and environmental and Occupational Health & Safety issues.

Visited the BPI pesticide residue laboratory and held technical discussions
with BPI and industry experts concerning banana bract mosaic, Moko and
Panama disease.

Met with BPI and stakeholders and discussed impressions of visits to the

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 17

 plantation and packhouse discussions with Philippine technical experts.
Friday South Cotabato
(10 Aug 2001)
Observed banana plantations and fruit handling procedures.

Discussed pest and disease management measures used in banana

plantations and environmental monitoring and Occupational Health &
Safety issues.

Exit meeting: met with key stakeholders and technical experts and
discussed the impressions of the whole visit to the Philippines.

Stakeholder meeting: met with stakeholders, including BPI, and discussed

comments on the Issues Paper.

Dinner function: Secretary Montemayor, Mr Sito Lorenzo and two

Governors delivered speeches on the importance of bananas for Mindanao.
Sharan Singh delivered a brief speech thanking the Philippines for their
contribution to the IRA and arrangements for the visit, and touched on the
need for conducting a comprehensive and transparent risk analysis based on
sound science.

Saturday Davao
(11 Aug 2001)
Visited BPI office in Manila with Director Blo Umpar Adiong and Ms
Estrella Tuazon and observed a display of Philippines regional agricultural
development projects.

Discussed bugtog and Moko with an expert from the Philippines.

Travel to Australia

18 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

 ATTACHMENT 2

Key participants in the TWG Chairs’ visit to the Philippines

Mr Leonardo Q Montemayor1,18 Mr Blo Umpar Adiong1-11,16-19
Secretary Director IV-CESO II
Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry
Department of Agriculture

Ms Estrella D. Tuazon1-19 Mr Larry Lacson2,7,11

Chief, Plant Quarantine Service Plant Quarantine Service
Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture

Dr Dario C. Sabularse2 Dr Rene Espino 1-18

Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority High Value Commercial Crops Program
Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture/
University of Philippines Los Banos
College Laguna

Dr Avelino D. Raymundo2 Dr Asuncion K. Raymundo19

Plant Pathology Microbiology
University of Philippines Los Banos University of Philippines Los Banos
College Laguna College Laguna

Dr Naceo B. Bajet2 Dr Bonificio F. Cayabyab2

University of Philippines Los Banos University of Philippines Los Banos
College Laguna College Laguna
Dr Ireneo L. Lit, Jr.2 Dr Juliana S. Samuel2
Museum of Natural History Department of Agronomy
University of Philippines Los Banos University of Philippines Los Banos
College Laguna College Laguna
Dr Edwin S. Raros1-3,7,11-14,16-18 Mr Carlos Mandujano 1
Director Dole Asia, Ltd.
Agricultural Development & Research
Division
Dole Asia, Ltd.
Mr Wencesiao P. Abilay3 Dr Sai Leng3
Manager Senior Scientist
Stanfilco’s Musatech Tissue Culture Lab. Stanfilco’s Musatech Tissue Culture Lab.
Mr Estrellita S. Aldaba3 Mr Gener Hudieres3
Superintendent Nursery Superintendent
Stanfilco’s Musatech Tissue Culture Lab. Stanfilco’s Musatech Tissue Culture Lab.
Mr Marlo Y. Tabbu12 Mr Allan Montenegro12
Zone Manager Pest and Disease Supervisor
Stafilco’s Skyland Zone Stafilco’s Skyland Zone

Mr Alejandro R. Munez12 Mr Monchito V. Adecer12

Assistant Scientist Environmental Concerns Supervisor
Stafilco’s Skyland Zone Stafilco’s Skyland Zone

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 19

Mr Albert Z. Angela 12 Mr Rey L. Casino12
Engineering Superintendent Packing Supervisor
Stafilco’s Skyland Zone Stafilco’s Skyland Zone
Dr Vivencio L. Quiñon2,4,5,7,10,11,13,14,16-18 Mr Rodolfo A. Paningbantan2,4-7,10-14,16-18
Vice-President Director
Agriculture & Technical Services Research & Development
Tadeco Del Monte Fresh Produce (Philippines) Inc.
Tagum Agricultural Development Co., Inc.
Mr Jose Lopez4,18 Mr Federico Odio 4
Senior Director Senior Director
Davao Operations Banana Production
Del Monte Fresh Produce (Philippines) Inc. Del Monte Fresh Produce (Philippines) Inc.
Mr Generoso Salingay4 Dr Hialrio Justo, Jr10
Director Research and Development Laboratory
Banana Production Del Monte Fresh Produce (Philippines) Inc.
TADECO & Dizon Farms
Dr Sergia Milagrosa10 Mr Rodney del Rosario2,7,11,14,17,18
Research and Development Laboratory Tadeco
Del Monte Fresh Produce (Philippines) Inc. Tagum Agricultural Development Co., Inc.

Dr Nicolas M. Dawi2,6,7,8,9-11,13-18 Ms Maria Emilia Fabregar2,7,8,11,13-18

Research Manager for Crop Protection Group Manager
Research & Development Research & Development
Lapinday Agricultural and Development Plantation Agric. Operations Segment
Corporation (LADECO) Lapinday Foods

Mr Francisco Lorenzo 2,7,8,11,14,15,17,18 Mr J.A. Cruz6,15

SVP & General Manager Group Manager for GFC
Plantation Agric. Operations Segment
Lapanday Foods
Mr A.P. Lazar6 Mr J.J. Cordero6
Production Manager for EPO Assistant Manger for GFC North

Mr Macla6 Mr Edwin T. Fabregar, Jr.15

Grower Senior Group Manager
Lapinday Plantation Agricultural
Operations Segment
Mr Minolito F. Mendez Mr Leopoldo C. Enson
Group Manager Plantation Manager
Malalag Tortuga Group Tortuga Valley Plantations Inc.

Mr D.A. Cabaña 15 Mr M.E. Butron15

Production Manager Assistant Manager
GFC- Tampakan GFC-Tampakan
Mr G.N. Patajo15 Mr D. Parcasio 15
Assistant Manager Packinghouse Supervisor
GFC-Tampakan GFC-Tampakan
Mr Sito Lorenzo 1,18 Mr Joselito P. Silva2,7,8,9,11,16-18
Del Monte Fresh Produce (Philippines) Inc. Production and Research Consultant
Marsman-Drysdale Agribusiness Group

20 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

Mr Robert S. Sebastian9 Mr Nilo F. Rosario9
President and Chief Executive Officer Plantation Director
Marsman-Drysdale Agribusiness Group Marsman-Drysdale Agribusiness Group
(Former Secretary of Agriculture) Nova Vists Management & Dev’t Corp. and
MD Isalon Organic Banana Agri- Ventures,
Inc.

Mr Carlos Z. Fajardo9 Mr Senen Navera4,5

Overall Banana Operation Director Head
Marsman-Drysdale Agribusiness Group Davao Plant Quarantine Station
Bureau of Plant Industry
Mr Rodolfo G. Atabug13,16-18 Ms Evelyn Fanlo 7,11,14,16-18
Research & Development Manger
Tristar Group of Banana Companies
Ms Karen Gilmour1-11 Mr David Peasley1-19
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Chair
Australian Embassy in Manila Horticulture, Environment and Operations
Technical Working Group
Mr Bob Paton1-19 Dr Sharan Singh1-19
Chair Chair
Arthropods Technical Working Group Pathogens Technical Working Group

Participated in the activity number given below:

1. Entry meeting in Manila on 6 August

2. Discussions in Manila on 6 August
3. Visit to Stanfilco’s Musatech Tissue Culture Lab, 7 August
4. Visit to Tadeco Plantation and packhouse, 7 August
5. Visit to a wharf, Tadeco Pier, 7 August
6. Visit to Macla Farm, 7 August
7. Wrap-up meeting, 7 August
8. Visit to Tortuga Valley Plantations and packhouse, 8 August
9. Visit to Nova Vista plantation and packhouse, 8 August
10. Visit to Delmonte laboratories, Davao, 8 August
11. Wrap-up meeting, Davao, 8 August
12. Visit to Stanfilco’s Skyland Zone plantation, Bukidnon, 9 August
13. Discussions at the BPI Pesticide Analytical Laboratory, Davao 9 August
14. Wrap-up meeting, Davao, 9 August
15. Visit to Tampakan plantation and packhouse, South Cotabato, 10 August
16. Wrap-up meeting, Davao, 10 August
17. Broader stakeholder meeting, Davao, 10 August
18. Dinner function, Davao
19. Meeting on bugtok and Moko, Manila, 11 August

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 21

 ATTACHMENT 3
List of Questions*
1. What is the banana industry structure in the Philippines, including statistics
concerning geographic distribution, production area, production, yield, marketing
and export trade?

2. What are the major research organisations and the names of key scientists working
on bananas in the Philippines, particularly the Mindanao Province?

3. What are the commonly used horticultural practices and procedures for banana
production in the Philippines?

4. What are the cultural methods of managing pests, diseases and weeds of banana in
the Philippines?

5. Is "area freedom" used as a management measure in the Philippines for banana

pests, diseases and weeds?

6. What is the prevalence and distribution of pests, diseases and hitchhikers likely to
occur on bananas?

7. What is the infrastructure in the Philippines for pest surveillance, monitoring,

recording and reporting of banana pests, diseases and weeds, including the
expertise of personnel conducting these activities?

8. What are the pesticide schedules used in the Philippines for managing arthropod
pests, diseases, weeds and other pests?

9. Is "pesticide resistance" a problem in the Philippines and, if so, what measures are
used to minimise the development of pesticide resistant strains of banana pests,
diseases and weeds.

10. What is the procedure for registering pesticides in the Philippines?

11. What regulations exist to govern use of registered pesticides in the Philippines and
how are these enforced?

12. What are the post- harvest chemical treatments used on banana fruit in the
Philippines?

13. Are pesticide residues a concern and, if so, what are these pesticides and what
measures are used by the Philippines and importing countries to monitor pesticide
residues in or on export bananas?

14. How much biological and pest management information is available for banana
pests, diseases and weeds in the Philippines?

15. What are the main sources of scientific and technical information on Philippines'

22 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

 banana pests, diseases and weeds and their management?

16. Has Philippines prepared data sheets on pests, diseases and weeds of bananas in
the Philippines, including Moko, bugtok, freckle, black Sigatoka, banana bract
mosaic, Panama disease, fruit flies, scale insects, mealybugs and white flies, and
vector/pathogen relationships?

17. Can banana fruit act as a source inoculum of banana bract mosaic virus and, if so,
can vectors acquire the virus from the fruit and transmit to banana plants?

18. What role does bana na fruit play in spreading Moko disease in the Philippines?

19. How many strains of the Moko bacterium occur in the Philippines?

20. How long can the Moko bacterium survive in soil?

21. What are vectors of the Moko bacterium in the Philippines and what is their role
in spreading Moko?

22. What are the alternative hosts of the Moko bacterium in the Philippines?

23. Can Bugtok bacteria infect Cavendish bananas, if so, what is the prevalence and
distribution of this disease and how is this disease managed in the Philippines?

24. Are banana floral remnants infected/infested with Moko and bugtok bacteria and,
if so, how long can these bacteria survive in floral remnants?

25. Which species of fruit flies are known to infest bananas in the Philippines?

26. At what stage do bananas become susceptible to these fruit flies?

27. Are these fruit flies able to lay eggs in hard green bananas?

28. What procedures are used, and how effective they are, in ensuring that packed
bananas are free from materials such as leaf trash and contaminated soil, which
may act as a source of inoculum for plant diseases (e.g. black Sigatoka, Panama )
and other pests?

29. What are the Philippines quarantine conditions for movement within the country
of banana plants, fruit, used farm machinery and containers to exclude pests and
diseases?

30. Does the Philippines government and/or industry require certification and
registration of banana plantations and, if so, what measure are required for these
purposes?

31. Are the Philippines banana growers/plantation managers required to keep records
of pest and disease occurrences and pesticide applications?

32. Are there any environmental concerns in the Philippines associated with the

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 23

 production and consumption of bananas and, if so, what measures are used to
address such concerns?

33. Does the Philippines government and/or industry has an environmental policy for
addressing environmental concerns with banana production?

34. Is information available on the occurrence in Philippines of hitchhikers (snails,

frogs, snakes, geckos, rodents, spiders, ticks etc) in packed bananas and associated
with packing cartons and shipping containers, etc?

35. What is the prevalence and distribution of feral and native banana plants in the
Philippines?

36. Is true viable seed found in the banana varieties nominated for export to Australia,
particularly when commercial plantations are in the vicinity of pollen source from
wild seeded species?

37. Does Philippines import bananas and, if so, what are Philippines' import
conditions for bananas?

38. What are the other importing countries' requirements/protocols for the importation
of Philippines bananas to address their quarantine concerns?

39. What have been importing countries' quarantine concerns with banana imported
from the Philippines?

40. How is the Philippines meeting importing countries quarantine requirements?

41. Does the Philippines maintain records of interceptions and non-compliance reports
by importing counties? If so, is the list of interceptions available?

42. Does the Philippines' government operate any pre-clearance arrangements for
bananas or other commodities to meet other countries import requirements?

43. What quality assurance systems are used in the Philippines for banana fruit,
including harvesting, cleaning, treatment, sorting, packaging, storage, transport,
identity preservation and trace-back of produce to the farm?

44. What is the efficacy of post- harvest banana fruit surface disinfestation treatment
(chlorine plus alum) in killing surface-borne inoculum of the black Sigatoka and
freckle fungi and the Moko bacterium?

45. Would ozone treatment of fruit during transit kill surface-borne inoculum of
banana pathogens? If so, what are the treatment details and how much efficacy
data are available?

46. Is the Panama disease found on Cavendish banana plants in the Philippines?

47. Is the Panama disease fungus found on the crowns of banana hands and fingers?

24 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

48. How many races and vegetative compatibility groups of the Panama disease
fungus occur in the Philippines?

49. Is race 4 or tropical race 4 of Panama disease fungus found in the Philippines?

50. Is freckle found on Cavendish banana plants and fruit?

51. What is the prevalence of freckle in banana plantations?

52. Is freckle a more important disease than black Sigatoka on Cavendish?

53. What are the chemicals and pesticide spray schedules required for the control of
freckle?

54. Are the chemicals and pesticide spray schedule used for the control of black
Sigatoka effective against freckle?

55. Does freckle require any ground sprays in addition to aerial sprays?

56. How many strains of freckle have been recorded in the Philippines?

57. How do the Philippines strains of freckle compare with strains in other parts of the
world particularly in terms of their pathogenicity on various banana genotypes?

58. What is the latency of freckle in banana fruit?

59. What are the Occupational Health and Safety measures used by banana industry?

60. Are there any human or animal health issues associated with the production and
consumption of Philippines bananas?

61. What are the quality defects found in Philippines bananas, particularly those that
could be confused with pest and disease symptoms?

62. What pests, diseases and hitchhikers have been intercepted by the Philippines
authorities during pre-export inspections of bananas?

63. Does Philippines grow any genetically engineered bananas?

64. What are the methods used in the Philippines for the identification of banana
cultivars?

65. Is breeding of bananas for pest and disease resistance conducted in the Philippines
and, if so, how successfully?

66. What are the current geographic boundaries of the proposed export areas and
when were the former Davao, Cotabato and Bukidnon subdivided?

67. What is the current usage of calixin in banana plantations and has any black
Sigatoka resistance been detected to this fungicide?

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 25

68. What is the prevalence and distribution of Moko in Mindanao?

69. Has Moko been identified in other islands and provinces of the Philippines?

70. What are the costs of the Moko eradication program in Mindanao?

71. What is the prevalence and distribution of Bugtok on cooking bananas throughout
the Philippines and specifically in Mindanao province?

72. Is Bugtok endemic throughout Cavendish banana production areas in Mindanao?

73. Have any of the insect vectors of Bugtok and Moko disease been identified? Is
there any current work in progress on insect transmission of Moko and bugtok
diseases n the Philippines?

74. Has Moko or bugtok infection in Cavendish banana been observed in Mindanao?
If so, is this the result of insect transmission or systemic infection?

75. What is the explanation for occurrence of random pattern of outbreak sites of
Moko in commercial plantations? Is this due to insect-transmission at very low
rates or something else?

76. What methods are used to identify virus infections in field plants in the
plantations?

77. Do you have protocols that define "hard green" fruit maturity standard and how
does the industry ensure that only mature bananas in the "hard green" condition
are packed for export?

78. What is the status in the Philippines of the following organisms that have been
recorded to occur in the Philippines according to the CABI Global Crop
Protection Compendium but were not included in the pest lists in the Issues Paper?

Aspergillus niger collar rot

Botryodiplodia theobromae
(Lasiodiplodia theobromae) finger rot

Ceratocystis paradoxa
(Chalara paradoxa) corm rot; black end; fingertip rot

Cochliobolus lunatus mould

Cucumber mosaic virus banana mosaic

Guignardia musicola freckle

Helicotylenchus multisenctus banana spiral nematode

26 Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001

 Hopolaimus seinhorsti lance nematode

Pratylenchus coffeae

Pratylenchus multicinctus

Rotylenchus reniformis reniform nematode

79. What is the status of Fusarium pallidoroseum in the Philippines?

80. How many sooty moulds and post- harvest rot organisms are recorded on banana
plants and bananas (please provide a comprehensive list?
*Some supplementary questions are somewhat repetitious. Further questions may be
added to the list following comments from the TWG/RAP members.

Report – TWG Chairs Philippines Visit, August 2001 27