EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1986 No. 298
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industry
DRIED VINE FRUITS EQUALIZATION LEVY ACT 1978
DRIED VINE FRUITS EQUALIZATION LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
The Dried Vine Fruits Equalization Act 1978 provides a statutory scheme for equalizing the returns (within prescribed limits) received for dried sultanas, dried currants and dried raisins sold on the domestic and export markets in years when returns from exports are lower than for domestic sales. The Dried Vine Fruits Equalization Levy Act 1978 provides for the imposition of a levy upon certain dried vine fruits for consumption on the domestic market for the purposes of the equalization scheme. New rates of levy may be fixed for each season commencing on 1 January.
It is intended that the levies set be such that they do not provide for equalized returns per tonne that exceed the respective average export returns per tonne for specified kinds of dried vine fruit by more than the percentages prescribed by the Act for that season.
The Dried Vine Fruits Equalization Levy Act 1978 also provides that dried fruit of a specified class may be exempt from levy by regulation.
The Minister has accepted a recommendation from the Australian Dried Fruits Corporation that 1986 season raisins be exempt from levy because of operational difficulties in applying the present legislative provisions to seeded raisins and for raisins to be subject to industry administered voluntary equalization arrangements. Amendments to the Dried Vine Fruits Equalization Act 1978 to overcome these difficulties have been included in the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (No. 2) 1986 for consideration during the current session of Parliament.