EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES & FORESTRY
AUSTRALIAN MEAT AND LIVE‑STOCK INDUSTRY
(HIGH QUALITY BEEF EXPORT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION) AMENDMENT ORDER 2011 (NO. 1)
1. Statutory basis
1.1 Under the Australian Meat and Live–stock (Quotas) Act 1990 and the Australian Meat and Live‑stock Industry Act 1997, the Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) may, where restrictions are imposed on exports of Australian meat, establish a scheme to allocate quotas among the holders of export licences.
1.2 This amendment order is made under section 17 of the Australian Meat and Live‑stock Industry Act 1997.
2. Background to amendment order
2.1 Each financial year commencing 1 July, the European Union (EU) allows Australia to ship a quantity of high quality beef (HQB) to the EU under a country-specific quota.
2.2 DAFF issues an order each year for the exports of high quality beef in the coming year, being, for the purpose of this order, from 1 July 2011 to
30 June 2012. The order issued for the 2011-12 quota year is the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (High Quality Beef Export to the European Union) Order 2011 (‘the order’).
2.3 According to the order, exporters had to apply for the allocation of quota by
29 April 2011. This date was incorrect. The correct date brings this order into line with the order of previous years.
3. Summary of amendment order
3.1 This amendment alters the date by which exporters can apply to be allocated quota from 29 April 2011, to 30 June 2011. This allows sufficient time for the allocation of quota to take place before the commencement of the 2011-12 quota year on 1 July 2011.
4. Consultation
4.1 The administrative arrangements for meat export quotas generally, including EU HQB arrangements, have been developed in consultation with industry.
5. Explanation of sections under the Order
5.1 Schedule 1 Amendment
Section 8 Subsection 2
This provision changes the date from ’29 April 2011’ to ’30 June 2011.’