Customs Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

Statutory Rules 1923, No. 76, which were enacted as a regulation under the Customs Act 1901-1922, aim to ensure that butter is exported in a manner that preserves its quality and integrity. The regulation was introduced to address the need for stringent standards in the packaging and transportation of butter to prevent spoilage and contamination. It was enacted by the Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the Minister of State for Trade and Customs, Austin Chapman. The overarching policy objective of this regulation is to safeguard the quality of butter exported from Australia by setting forth specific packaging requirements that must be met to ensure the butter remains in a sound condition upon arrival at its destination.

Scope and Application

This statutory rule, issued under the Customs Act 1901-1922, pertains specifically to the export of butter and is designed to regulate the packaging and handling of butter to maintain its quality during transportation and storage. The regulation applies to all entities and individuals involved in the export of butter, ensuring that they adhere to the specified packaging standards to prevent deterioration, tainting, and breakage. It ensures that butter is exported in packages that are robust enough to withstand ordinary handling and are packed in a way that guarantees the butter arrives at its destination in good condition. This regulation has a national reach as it is issued under the Commonwealth's authority and applies across all states and territories of Australia. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within this specific regulation; however, the overarching Customs Act and its subordinate instruments may include additional provisions that could impact certain entities or circumstances. This regulation itself can be further refined or amended through subsequent subordinate instruments issued under the authority of the Customs Act.

Key Provisions

The main operative section of the Statutory Rules 1923, No. 76, concerns the amendment of the Customs Regulations under the Customs Act 1901-1922. Specifically, Regulation 154e (paragraph 1) is repealed and replaced with new provisions that govern the export of butter. The new regulation requires that butter be exported only in packages that meet certain criteria, namely that they do not cause rapid deterioration (paragraph 1(a)), do not impart a taint when stored (paragraph 1(b)), are strong enough to prevent breakage during ordinary handling (paragraph 1(c)), and are packed in a way that ensures the butter arrives at its destination in a sound condition (paragraph 1(d)). These criteria must be assessed by an authorised officer responsible for inspecting butter. The Act imposes obligations on entities exporting butter to ensure compliance with the packaging requirements outlined in the new Regulation 154e. Exporters must use packages that meet the specified standards to avoid rapid deterioration, taint, breakage, and to ensure the butter arrives at its destination in a sound condition. The responsibility falls on the exporters to verify that the packaging meets these requirements before attempting to export the butter. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in the butter being detained or refused entry at the destination, causing potential delays and financial losses. There are no explicit offences or penalties mentioned in the provided text of the Statutory Rules 1923, No. 76. However, the Customs Act 1901-1922, under which these regulations are made, generally provides for various penalties for breaches of customs regulations. These can include fines, detention of goods, or other civil and criminal penalties as deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities. The specific penalties for non-compliance with these packaging regulations would likely be determined based on the severity and intent of the breach, and could potentially include substantial fines or other legal consequences if the breach is found to be deliberate or repeated.