Banana freckle

Banana freckle is a disease of banana leaves and fruit.

It is a declared pest under Northern Territory (NT) plant health legislation.

The NT was declared banana freckle free on 1 February 2019.

That means plant health regulations will be updated to remove the export requirements.

Read below to find out more about importing or exporting banana plants and banana plant material.

Buy, grow, move or sell bananas

You no longer need a permit to buy, grow, move or sell banana plants within the NT.

However, if you want to export banana plants or any other banana plant material, you must get a permit and check the import requirements of that particular state or territory.

If you live interstate and want to import banana plants or any other banana plant material from the NT, you must check the import requirements of your state or territory.

Check your plants

All Territorians are encouraged to:

• check their banana plants regularly for any signs of banana freckle or other pests and diseases
• avoid moving or sharing plants
• report any banana freckle or other pest and disease symptoms to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

You should regularly check your banana plants. You must report any sign of banana freckle by law.

Read more about laws relating to banana freckle on the Department of Primary Industry and Resources website.

What it looks and feels like

Banana freckle makes leaves and fruit spotty and has a sandpaper feel due to the fungal spore vessels sticking up through the surface of the leaf or skin.

More information

Read more about the NT being declared banana freckle free on the Department of Primary Industry and Resources page.

Find out more about banana freckle at the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website.

Get the banana freckle fact sheet at the Plant Health Australia website.