EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1983 No. 172
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industry
FISH (EXPORT INSPECTION CHARGE) ACT 1981
FISH (EXPORT INSPECTION CHARGE) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
The Fish (Export Inspection Charge) Act 1981 provides for the Governor-General to make regulations for the purpose of imposing a charge on fish inspected for export. The Act provides that regulations may prescribe different rates of charge for different classes of fish provided they do not exceed maximum rates of charge set in the Act. Currently, the maximum charges allowable are 15 cents per dozen for oysters in the shell or half shell and 30 cents per kilogram for fish other than oysters in the shell or half shell.
The Fish (Export Inspection Charge) Regulations prescribe the operative rates of charge applicable to 6 classes of fish inspected for export in respect of which a prescribed export permit is issued. The operative charges were first set to take effect from 1 July 1981 at a level to recover half the cost of fish inspection at that time. Fish export inspection charges have not increased since their introduction in 1981.
The proposed charges have been determined, taking into account cost increases since 1981, with a view to achieving 50% recovery of costs incurred during the remainder of 1983/84, in line with Government policy. The proposed new rates reflect the effort and cost of inspecting the various types of fish rather than the export value of the commodity as in the past. The revised charges are based on expected exports and inspection costs in the 1983/84 financial year and take into account changes in inspection procedures since 1981. If charges continued at the current level for the full year it is estimated that only 33% of fish inspection costs would be recouped.
The current charges and proposed new charges are as follows:
Class of Fish | Current Charge (¢) | Proposed Charge (¢) |
Fish other than shellfish | 0.34/kg | 1.0/kg |
Shellfish other than oysters, rock lobster, squid, cuttlefish and octopus | 2.5/kg | 3.6/kg |
Oysters in the shell or half shell | 1/doz | 10.3/doz |
Oysters not in the shell or half shell | 0.34/kg | 3.5/kg |
Rock lobster | 3.9/kg | 5.1/kg |
Squid, cuttlefish and octopus | 0.34/kg | 1.9/kg |
The proposed regulation replaces the Schedule to the Fish (Export Inspection Charge) Regulations to enable implementation of the increased export inspection charges. The increased charges are to come into effect from 1 October 1983.
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