National Residue Survey (Laying Chicken) Levy Act 1992

Overview

The National Residue Survey (Laying Chicken) Levy Act 1992 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address the need for a systematic approach to monitoring and controlling chemical residues in laying chickens. This legislation introduced a levy specifically targeting laying chickens to fund the National Residue Survey, which was designed to ensure the safety and quality of eggs and poultry products entering the market. By imposing this levy, the Act aimed to provide a stable and reliable source of funding for the survey, ensuring ongoing oversight and compliance with residue standards. The policy objective behind the Act is to safeguard public health by mitigating the risks associated with chemical residues in laying chickens and their products. The levy collected under this Act is intended to support the comprehensive and continuous monitoring necessary to enforce the standards set forth in related legislation, thereby protecting consumers and maintaining the integrity of the poultry industry.

Scope and Application

The National Residue Survey (Laying Chicken) Levy Act 1992 applies to laying chickens, as defined in the Laying Chicken Levy Act 1988, and is designed to impose a levy on these chickens as part of the national residue survey. The levy is specifically targeted at laying chickens, ensuring that it applies only to those involved in the production and distribution of eggs from hens that lay eggs for commercial purposes. The Act binds the Crown in right of each of the States, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory, indicating a broad jurisdictional reach across Australia. While the Act itself does not explicitly mention exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, it is contingent upon the terms and conditions set out in the National Residue Survey Administration Act 1992, which may provide further details on the application of the levy. This Act ensures a standardised approach to the levy across different jurisdictions within Australia.

Key Provisions

The National Residue Survey (Laying Chicken) Levy Act 1992 (section 1) is an Act that imposes a levy in respect of laying chickens. The Act officially came into effect on 1 July 1993 (section 2). It defines "laying chicken" in accordance with the Laying Chicken Levy Act 1988 (section 3). Notably, this Act is binding on the Crown in all states, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory (section 4). The primary purpose of the Act is to impose the National Residue Survey Levy, as defined in the National Residue Survey Administration Act 1992, specifically in relation to laying chickens (section 5). This levy is a financial contribution intended to fund the survey of residues in laying chickens. The Act imposes certain obligations on the parties it governs. It requires the imposition of the National Residue Survey Levy on laying chickens, which is intended to fund the necessary surveys and analyses to monitor and ensure the safety of laying chickens. Entities involved in the production, sale, or processing of laying chickens are likely to be the primary subjects of these obligations, ensuring they contribute to the survey costs. Additionally, the levy is intended to be collected in a manner consistent with the provisions of the National Residue Survey Administration Act 1992, indicating that the Act works in conjunction with other legislative frameworks to achieve its purpose. Breach of the obligations set out in this Act may lead to legal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly detail offences or penalties in its provisions, the National Residue Survey Administration Act 1992, which it references, likely contains provisions regarding penalties for non-compliance. Typically, failure to pay the imposed levy could result in fines, legal action, or other civil or administrative penalties. The exact penalties would depend on the specific provisions of the National Residue Survey Administration Act 1992, but they are likely to be significant enough to enforce compliance with the levy requirements.