Dried Fruits Levy Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Dried Fruits Levy Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1983, issued under the authority of the Minister for Primary Industry, were enacted to address the need for updating the levy rates for dried fruits of each season. These regulations amend the Dried Fruits Levy Act 1971, which mandates the establishment of these levy rates to finance research under the Dried Fruits Research Act 1971. The policy objective, as outlined in the explanatory statement, is to ensure that the levy rates are set at the maximum allowable under the Act to effectively fund the necessary research and other approved purposes. The Dried Fruits Research Committee, established under the Dried Fruits Research Act, recommends the rates to the Minister, who then accepts and enacts these rates through statutory rules. For the 1983 season, the Committee recommended, and the Minister accepted, setting the rates for all dried vine fruits and dried tree fruits, including dried plums, at their maximum allowable levels.

Scope and Application

The Dried Fruits Levy Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1983, issued under the authority of the Minister for Primary Industry, apply to all dried fruits produced within Australia. The levy rates established by these regulations are intended to fund research activities as mandated by the Dried Fruits Research Act 1971, with the Commonwealth contributing half of the amounts collected for approved purposes. The Dried Fruits Research Committee, established under the Dried Fruits Research Act 1971, provides recommendations to the Minister regarding the appropriate levy rates for each season, which the Minister then approves. For the 1983 season, the Committee recommended that the levy rates for dried vine fruits and dried tree fruits, including dried plums, be set at the maximum allowable under the Act. These rates are set at $1.00 per tonne for dried vine fruits, $5.00 per tonne for dried tree fruits, and $5.00 per tonne for dried plums. The regulations cover all entities involved in the production and sale of dried fruits within Australia, ensuring that the necessary funds are collected to support ongoing research in this sector.

Key Provisions

The Dried Fruits Levy Regulations (Amendment) establish the levy rates for dried fruits for the 1983 season, as outlined in section 1. These rates are intended to be used to fund research under the Dried Fruits Research Act 1971, with the Commonwealth contributing half of the amounts payable for approved purposes. The primary rates established by the regulation are $1.00 per tonne for dried vine fruits, $5.00 per tonne for dried tree fruits, and $5.00 per tonne for dried plums. These rates were recommended by the Dried Fruits Research Committee and accepted by the Minister. Under these regulations, certain obligations and requirements are imposed on the parties involved. Producers and handlers of dried fruits are mandated to pay the specified levy rates for each tonne of their produce, as set out in section 2. This levy is to be collected and remitted to the relevant authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Dried Fruits Levy Act 1971. Compliance with these payment obligations is crucial to ensure the continued funding of research activities. Failure to comply with the levy requirements may result in legal consequences. According to section 3, breaches of the regulations can lead to civil penalties. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, but the potential for enforcement actions remains a significant deterrent against non-compliance. Furthermore, persistent failure to remit the levy could potentially lead to more severe consequences, including legal proceedings to recover the unpaid levies and possibly additional fines or other penalties as deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities.