Apple and Pear Stabilization Regulations

Overview

The Apple and Pear Stabilization Regulations, 1972, were made under the authority of the Apple and Pear Stabilization Act 1971. This legislation was introduced to address the need for stabilization and support in the apple and pear industries, ensuring that growers receive a fair and stable income for their produce. Enacted by the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations establish the support prices for various apple and pear varieties for the 1971-72 season. The policy objective is to provide economic stability to apple and pear growers by setting minimum prices for their produce, thereby protecting them against market fluctuations and ensuring their livelihoods are supported.

Scope and Application

The Apple and Pear Stabilization Regulations, made under the Apple and Pear Stabilization Act 1971, apply to the apple and pear industry within the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically targeting growers, handlers, and marketers of apples and pears. These regulations are designed to stabilise the market by setting prescribed support prices for various apple and pear varieties for the season starting from the first day of October 1971. The regulations cover specific apple and pear varieties by prescribing a support price per reputed bushel, as detailed in the table within the regulations. This ensures that producers receive a minimum price for their produce, providing financial stability and encouraging continued production. These regulations do not specify any exclusions or exemptions explicitly, but their application is inherently limited to the apple and pear industry within the Commonwealth. The support prices prescribed are intended to apply across the specified season, and the regulations may be extended or amended through subordinate instruments to address any changes in market conditions or to add new varieties. The geographic scope of these regulations is national, impacting all apple and pear producers and marketers within Australia.

Key Provisions

The Apple and Pear Stabilization Regulations, made under the Apple and Pear Stabilization Act 1971, provide detailed specifications for the support prices of different varieties of apples and pears for the 1971-72 season. Specifically, section 3 of the Regulations sets out the support price per reputed bushel for various named varieties, with prices ranging from $2.61 to $3.50 depending on the type of fruit and its variety. These prices are intended to provide a baseline financial support to growers, ensuring a minimum income for their produce during the specified season. The Regulations impose obligations on the parties involved in the apple and pear industry, ensuring that growers are compensated appropriately for their produce. This support price mechanism is designed to stabilise the market by providing financial predictability, thereby encouraging consistent production and preventing oversupply or undersupply in the market. By prescribing these prices, the Regulations also aim to maintain the viability and sustainability of apple and pear farming within the specified season. There are no explicit provisions detailing offences, penalties, or consequences for breach of these Regulations. However, given the statutory framework under which they were made, any non-compliance or failure to adhere to the prescribed support prices could potentially be subject to legal action or administrative measures under the overarching Apple and Pear Stabilization Act 1971. While specific penalties are not outlined in these Regulations, breaches of the Act could result in civil or criminal consequences, including fines or other enforcement actions, as provided for under the Act itself.