National Residue Survey Administration (Meat Chickens) Amendment Act 1994

Overview

The National Residue Survey Administration (Meat Chickens) Amendment Act 1994 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to amend the National Residue Survey Administration Act 1992, specifically addressing the need to increase the levy rate for national residue surveys on meat chickens. The primary objective of this amendment was to raise the levy from 0.02 cents per head to 0.06 cents per head to ensure more comprehensive and effective monitoring of residues in meat chickens. This legislative change was introduced to bolster the surveillance mechanisms in place to protect public health and maintain the integrity of the meat chicken supply chain. The Act came into effect on the day it received Royal Assent, thereby immediately implementing the increased levy as part of the national residue survey administration for meat chickens.

Scope and Application

The National Residue Survey Administration (Meat Chickens) Amendment Act 1994 is a piece of Australian legislation that serves to amend the National Residue Survey Administration Act 1992, specifically concerning the maximum rate of national residue survey levy applicable to meat chickens. This Act applies to entities involved in the production and sale of meat chickens within the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby impacting the poultry industry directly. By increasing the levy rate from 0.02 cents per head to 0.06 cents per head, the Act seeks to enhance the funding available for residue surveys, ensuring that meat chickens are monitored more effectively for harmful residues. The increased levy is intended to bolster the quality and safety standards of meat chicken products, thereby protecting public health and maintaining consumer confidence in the industry. Geographically, the Act operates within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia, impacting all entities involved in the meat chicken industry nationwide. The amendment does not specify exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds other than the increase of the levy rate, and it does not extend or restrict its application through subordinate instruments. Instead, the Act focuses solely on adjusting the financial burden on industry participants to support improved residue survey activities, thereby ensuring compliance with health and safety standards across the board.

Key Provisions

The National Residue Survey Administration (Meat Chickens) Amendment Act 1994 primarily serves to modify the levy rate applied to meat chickens under the National Residue Survey Administration Act 1992 (section 3). This adjustment involves changing the maximum rate of the national residue survey levy from 0.02 cents per head to 0.06 cents per head for meat chickens, as specified in the Schedule to the Principal Act (section 3). The Act comes into effect on the day it receives Royal Assent (section 2). This Act imposes obligations on entities involved in the production and sale of meat chickens, primarily requiring them to contribute to the national residue survey through the increased levy. The levy is intended to fund surveys that monitor chemical residues in meat chickens, ensuring compliance with food safety standards and protecting public health (section 3). These entities, including poultry farmers and processors, must ensure that the revised levy is collected and remitted to the relevant authorities as stipulated by the Principal Act. Breaches of the obligations set out in this Act, such as failure to remit the correct levy or non-compliance with the survey requirements, may result in civil or criminal consequences. The specific penalties are not detailed in the Act itself but would be governed by the provisions of the Principal Act. Generally, penalties for non-compliance with such regulations can include fines and, in severe cases, criminal charges that may lead to imprisonment. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the breach, as outlined in the Principal Act and relevant regulations.