EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1982 No. 86
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industry
EXPORTS (FRESH FRUIT) REGULATIONS
(AMENDMENT)
The Exports (Fresh Fruit) Regulations which derive their authority from the Customs Act 1901 and the Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905, prescribe the export inspection conditions with which fresh fruit intended for export must comply. Their purpose is to ensure that Australian fresh fruit is of a standard acceptable in overseas markets.
The Regulations have been amended to reflect updated requirements applicable to fresh fruit for export.
Regulation 1 (Amending Regulation 4 of the Principal Regulations - Interpretation)
The Definitions in the Regulations have been amended to incorporate aircraft, airports, depots, railway stations or railway sidings, railway wagons, road transport vehicles and container system units as appointed places where fresh fruit may be examined before export.
Regulation 2 (Amending Regulation 8 of the Principal Regulations - Export of Fresh Fruit Prohibited Except Subject to Conditions)
The amendment permits the exportation of pineapples without the need to be prepared and packed in an export establishment. Pineapples are now packed in the field or in portable sheds.
Regulation 3 (Amending Regulation 9 of the Principal Regulations
Registration of Export Establishments for Bananas, Citrus Fruit and Pineapples)
The amendment removes reference to export establishments being registered for the receipt, processing, packing and storage of pineapples.
Regulation 4 (Amending Regulation 12 of the Principal Regulations - Requirements as to Trade Description)
Regulation 12 (1) (c) requires the trade description to be applied to fresh fruit to contain details of the producer and exporter of the fruit, and under some circumstances, the particulars of the owner of the packing establishment.
The amendment requires, in the case of citrus fruit, that the name of the packer or his official registration number must be shown in the trade description. In the case of apples and pears, an identification number for the packer must be shown in the trade description.
Regulation 5 (Amending the Second Schedule to the Principal Regulations)
An amendment to the table in sub-paragraph 3 (1) removes the Australian dump package from the list of approved packages as this package is no longer in use.
Regulation 6 (Amending the Third Schedule to the Principal Regulations)
(a) Quality grades have been replaced by a numerical classification to conform to international standards and the “Red Jonathan” apple variety has been removed from the export list to avoid confusion with the variety “Jonathan”.
(b) The export of approved apple varieties of specified sizes or counts will no longer be restricted to certain destinations.
(c) Those pear varieties that are no longer required by overseas markets have been removed from the export list and the remaining varieties may be exported to any destinations.
(d) Individual wrapping of pears and use of protective material in packages will be optional on the recommendation of industry organisations.
Regulation 7 (Further Amendments of the Third Schedule to the Principal Regulations)
(a) Amendments to Item 1 remove references to Australian dump package and quality grades (substituting numerical classification); provide for apples to be free from sunburn and makes wrapping of apples an optional matter.
(b) An amendment of Item 2 removes the requirement that grapes shall be packed with granulated cork. There has been a considerable increase in the airfreight of grapes and use of cork is not justified for consignments sent by air.
(c) Amendments to Items 3, 4 and 5 remove the requirement that grapefruits, lemons and mandarins shall be wrapped and replace quality grades by a numerical classification. Wrapping will no longer be essential and will depend on the requirements of the importing country.
(d) Amendments to Item 6 remove the wrapping requirement for oranges; replace quality grades with numerical classifications and prohibit export of Class II oranges to countries other than New Zealand.
(e) Minor technical changes are being made to Item 9 to update requirements and standards for pineapples due to changes over the years in harvesting, fungicidal treatment, packaging and transport.
(f) An amendment to Item 10 will allow small size plums to be exported whenever there is a demand in overseas markets.
Regulation 8 (Amending the Fourth Schedule to the Principal Regulations)
The word “pineapples” has been removed from Forms 1 and 2.
The words “Registration No.” have been inserted in Form 2.