EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1987 NO. 11
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industry
APPLE AND PEAR LEVY ACT 1976
APPLE AND PEAR LEVY
REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
The Apple and Pear Levy Act 1976 imposes a levy on the production of certain apples and pears produced in Australia and either sold by growers or used by growers in the production of fruit juice or other goods. The proceeds of the levy fund the operations of the Australian Apple and Pear Corporation.
The amendment to the Apple and Pear Levy Regulations, on the recommendation of the Australian Apple and Pear Growers’ Association, exempts fruit sold for stockfood purposes from payment of the levy. Currently apples and pears sold as stockfood attract levy at the high fresh fruit rate but because of the usually poor quality of such fruit market returns are very much lower. This anomalous situation is affecting returns to growers who are supplying low quality fruit to outlets such as zoos.
The Australian Apple and Pear Growers’ Association has indicated it may consider recommending the imposition of a lower rate of levy for such fruit in the future when it next considers changes to overall apple and pear levy rates.