Customs Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1922L00021 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Select Document

STATUTORY RULES.

1922. No. 21.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE CUSTOMS ACT 1901-1920.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Customs Act 1901-1920, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this first day of February, 1922.

FORSTER,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

ARTHUR S. RODGERS,

Minister of State for Trade and Customs.

Amendment of the Customs Regulations 1913.

(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 346, as amended to this date.)

1. Regulation 154j of the Customs Regulations is amended by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (d)—

“(e) Where the Comptroller-General is satisfied that strict compliance with the requirements of paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) of this regulation would be economically impossible he may permit such variations in the requirements as he deems necessary.”

2. Regulations 154l to 154s (inclusive) of the Customs Regulations are repealed, and the following regulations inserted in their stead:—

Peaches.

“154l. (1) The canning of peaches for export shall be subject to the following conditions:—

(a) Each peach shall be halved.

(b) Only complete halves shall be used; all other portions shall be discarded.

(d) The skins shall be removed by lye solution or any other treatment deemed by an officer to be suitable.

(2) Canned peaches shall be prepared in accordance with such one of the following sets of conditions as is applicable to the description of the peaches:—

(a) Peaches describable as ‘Special.’—Not fewer than six nor more than twelve halves shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than four halves per container; the halves shall be of very good colour for the variety, free from blemishes, not over-ripe, uniform in size and colour, and very symmetrical; and the syrup used shall contain 50 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(b) Peaches describable as ‘Fancy.’—Not fewer than six nor more than twelve halves shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than four halves per container; the halves shall be of very good

colour for the variety, free from blemishes, not over-ripe, uniform in size and colour, and very symmetrical; and the syrup used shall contain 40 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(c) Peaches describable as ‘Choice.’—Not fewer than six nor more than fifteen halves shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than five halves per container; the halves shall be of good colour for the variety, free from blemishes, not over-ripe, uniform in size and colour, and symmetrical; and the syrup used shall contain 30 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(d) Peaches describable as ‘Standard.’—Not fewer than six nor more than twenty-one halves shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than six halves per container; the halves shall be of reasonably good colour, reasonably ripe, yet not over-ripe, reasonably free from blemishes, reasonably uniform in size and colour, and reasonably symmetrical; and the syrup used shall contain 25 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.”

Quartered Peaches.

“154m. (1) The canning of quartered peaches for export shall be subject to the following conditions:—

(a) Each peach shall be quartered.

(b) Only complete quarters shall be used; all other portions shall be discarded.

(d) The skins shall be removed by lye solution or any other treatment deemed by an officer to be suitable.

(2) Quartered peaches shall be prepared in accordance with such one one of the following sets of conditions as is applicable to the description of the peaches:—

(a) Quartered peaches describable as ‘Fancy.’—Not fewer than ten nor more than twenty quarters shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than eight quarters per container; the quarters shall be of very good colour for the variety, not over-ripe, uniform in colour and size, and very symmetrical; and the syrup used shall contain 40 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(b) Quartered peaches describable as ‘Choice.’—Not fewer than ten nor more than twenty-four quarters shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than ten quarters per container; the quarters shall be of good colour for the variety, not over-ripe, uniform in size and colour, and symmetrical; and the syrup used shall contain 30 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(c) Quartered peaches describable as ‘Standard.’—Not fewer than ten nor more than twenty-four quarters shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than ten quarters per container; the quarters shall be of reasonably good colour, reasonably ripe, yet not over-ripe, reasonably free from blemishes, reasonably uniform in size and colour, and reasonably symmetrical; and the syrup used shall contain 25 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.”

Sliced Peaches.

“154n. (1) The canning of sliced peaches for export shall be subject to the following conditions:—

(a) Only one variety of peach shall be placed in each container or case.

(b) The skins shall be removed by lye solution or any other treatment deemed by an officer to be suitable.

(2) Sliced peaches shall be prepared in accordance with such one of the following sets of conditions as is applicable to the description of the peaches:—

(a) Sliced peaches describable as ‘Fancy.’—The fruit shall be of very good colour for the variety, not over-ripe, the slices being uniform in size and colour, free from blemishes, and very symmetrical; and the syrup used shall contain 40 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(b) Sliced peaches describable as ‘Choice.’—The fruit shall be of good colour for the variety, not over-ripe, the slices being uniform in size and colour, free from blemishes, and Symmetrical; and the syrup used shall contain 30 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(c) Sliced peaches describable as ‘Standard.’—The fruit shall be of reasonably good colour, the slices being reasonably uniform in size and colour, reasonably ripe, yet not over-ripe, reasonably free from blemishes, and reasonably symmetrical; and the syrup used shall contain 25 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.”

Apricots.

“154o. (1) The canning of apricots for export shall be subject to the following conditions:—

(a) Each apricot shall be halved.

(b) Only complete halves shall be used; all other portions shall be discarded.

(2) Canned apricots shall be prepared in accordance with such one of the following sets of conditions as is applicable to the description of the apricots:—

(a) Apricots describable as ‘Fancy.’—Not more than twenty-four halves shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than six halves per container; the apricots shall be not over-ripe, free from blemishes, and uniform in size and colour; and the syrup used shall contain 40 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(b) Apricots describable as ‘Choice.’—Not more than thirty halves shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than seven halves per container; the apricots shall be not over-ripe, free from blemishes, and uniform in size and colour; and the syrup used shall contain 30 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(c) Apricots describable as ‘Standard.’—Not more than forty-two halves shall be paced in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than eight halves per container; the apricots shall be reasonably ripe, yet not over-ripe, reasonably free from blemishes, and reasonably uniform in size and colour; and the syrup used shall contain 25 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.”

Pears.

“154p. (1) The canning of pears for export shall be subject to the following conditions:—

(a) Each pear shall be halved.

(b) Only complete halves shall be used; all other portions shall be discarded.

(d) Only one variety of pear shall be placed in each container or case.

(2) Canned pears shall be prepared in accordance with such one of the following sets of conditions as is applicable to the description of the pears:—

(a) Pears describable as ‘Fancy.’—Not fewer than six nor more than twelve halves shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than four halves per container; the halves shall be not over-ripe, and uniform in size and colour, no pink, brown, or other abnormally-coloured pears shall be included in a container; and the syrup used shall contain 35 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(b) Pears describable as ‘Choice.’—Not fewer than six nor more than fifteen halves shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than five halves per container; the halves shall be not over-ripe, and uniform in size and colour; no pink, brown, or other abnormally-coloured pears shall be included in a container; and the syrup used shall contain 25 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(c) Pears describable as ‘Standard.’—Not fewer than six nor more than twenty-one halves shall be placed in any one container, and in no single consignment shall there be a variation of more than six halves per container; the halves shall be reasonably ripe, yet not over-ripe, and reasonably uniform in size and colour; and the syrup used shall contain 20 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.”

Plums.

“154q. (1) The canning of plums for export shall be subject to the following conditions:—

(a) Plums shall be canned either whole or in halves.

(b) When the plum is halved, only complete halves shall be used; all other portions shall be discarded.

(d) The fruit shall be free from stones (when canned in halves).

(2) Canned plums shall be prepared in accordance with such one of the following sets of conditions as is applicable to the description of the plums:—

(a) Plums describable as ‘Fancy.’—The fruit shall be uniform in size, free from blemishes, not over-ripe, and of very fine quality; and the syrup used shall contain 50 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(b) Plums describable as ‘Choice.’—The fruit shall be uniform in size, free from blemishes, not over-ripe; and the syrup used shall contain 35 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.”

Cherries.

“154r. (1) The canning of cherries for export shall be subject to the following conditions:—

(a) Only one variety of cherry shall be placed in each container or case.

(b) Each cherry shall be stemmed.

(2) Canned cherries shall be prepared in accordance with such one of the following sets of conditions as is applicable to the description of the cherries:—

(a) Cherries describable as ‘Fancy.’—Not more than one hundred shall be placed in any one container; the fruit shall be of very fine quality, not over-ripe, free from blemishes; and the syrup used shall contain 35 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(b) Cherries describable as ‘Choice.’—Not more than one hundred and twenty-five shall be placed in any one container; the fruit shall be of fine quality, not over-ripe, free from blemishes; and the syrup used shall contain 25 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.”

Pineapples.

“154s. (1) The canning of pineapples for export shall be subject to the following conditions:—

(a) Only one variety of pineapple shall be placed in each container or case.

(b) The pineapples shall be peeled, and all skin and eyes shall be removed.

(2) Canned pineapples shall be prepared in accordance with such one of the following sets of conditions as is applicable to the description of the pineapples:—

(a) Pineapples describable as ‘Fancy.’—The pineapples shall be sliced, the core removed, the hole so left being not less than three-quarters of an inch in diameter. The slices shall be of even thickness; all broken or irregularly-cut pieces shall be discarded; not less than eight nor more than twelve slices shall be placed in any one container; the same number of slices of any given thickness shall be placed in each container; the slices shall reasonably fit the container, and shall be of uniform colour and degree of ripeness; and the syrup used shall contain 30 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.

(b) Pineapples describable as ‘Choice.’—The pineapples shall be cut into a single piece, or into chunks, cubes, or quarter slices of uniform sizes, colour, and degree of ripeness; each can shall contain fruit of uniform dimensions, i.e., a single piece, or all chunks, cubes, or all quarter slices; and the syrup used shall contain 30 per cent. by weight of cane sugar.”

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

C.978.—2

Overview

The Customs (Amendment) Regulations 1922 (Statutory Rules 1922, No. 21) were enacted to amend the Customs Regulations 1913, introducing new standards and conditions for the canning and export of various fruits such as peaches, apricots, pears, plums, cherries, and pineapples. The regulations were made under the authority of the Customs Act 1901-1920 by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The policy objective was to ensure the quality and consistency of fruit exports, thereby maintaining the reputation of Australian products in the international market. The regulations provide detailed conditions and quality standards for each type of fruit, including specifications on the size, colour, ripeness, and treatment of the fruit, as well as the sugar content of the syrup used. These regulations were designed to address the gap in maintaining high-quality standards for fruit exports, ensuring that Australian products met the necessary quality requirements set by importing countries. By specifying detailed conditions for the canning and export of various fruits, the regulations aimed to enhance the overall quality of Australian fruit exports, thereby supporting the economic interests of the fruit industry.

Scope and Application

These Statutory Rules, made under the Customs Act 1901-1920, apply to the canning of specific fruits for export purposes. The legislation specifically details the conditions under which peaches, apricots, pears, plums, cherries, and pineapples can be canned for export, including specific requirements for the preparation, quality, and packaging of these fruits. The rules set out detailed standards for the classification of these fruits, such as the allowable number of pieces per container, the degree of ripeness, and the percentage of cane sugar in the syrup. The application of these regulations is confined to the canning process for export, thus affecting entities involved in the fruit canning industry, including producers, canners, and exporters. These regulations have a national reach, as they are made under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby binding all states and territories within Australia. The regulations do not explicitly mention exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond the specific conditions set forth for each type of fruit. Furthermore, the application of these regulations may be extended or clarified through subordinate instruments, which may provide additional guidance or specific details necessary for compliance.

Key Provisions

The Customs Regulations 1922 (Statutory Rules 1922, No. 21) under the Customs Act 1901-1920 include amendments and new regulations concerning the canning of specific fruits for export. Regulation 154j is amended to allow variations in the canning requirements if strict compliance would be economically impossible, at the discretion of the Comptroller-General (Regulation 1). New regulations (154l to 154s) replace the previous provisions for the canning of peaches, apricots, pears, plums, cherries, and pineapples, each with detailed conditions on preparation, variety, and quality (Regulations 2-9). These regulations impose specific obligations on parties involved in the canning of these fruits for export. For example, peaches must be halved, with only complete halves used, and must adhere to specific quality and quantity requirements based on their grade (Regulation 154l). Similarly, apricots must be halved, with no variation in quantity exceeding specified limits, and must meet quality standards based on their grade (Regulation 154o). Pineapples must be peeled, with all skin and eyes removed, and must fit specific dimensional and quality criteria (Regulation 154s). These requirements ensure that the fruits meet certain standards before being exported. Breaches of these regulations could result in penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text provided, under the Customs Act 1901-1920, non-compliance with customs regulations can lead to civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties could include fines, while criminal penalties could involve imprisonment. The severity of the penalty would depend on the nature and extent of the breach.

Area of Law: Commercial Law
Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Compliance Obligations; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

Interactions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

Legislation content

Overview

Scope and Application

Key Provisions

Legal classification tags

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions