Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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EXPORT INSPECTION (SERVICE CHARGE) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1997 NO.361

STATUTORY RULES 1997 No. 361

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy

Export Inspection (Service Charge) Act 1985

Export Inspection (Service Charge) Regulations (Amendment)

Section 9 of the Export Inspection (Service Charge) Act 1985 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of sections 6 and 7 of the Act.

Section 6 provides that a charge be imposed on the provision of an export inspection service at an establishment, being an establishment that, at the time the service is provided, is registered for operations associated with the preparation of a prescribed commodity specified in the regulations. Section 6 also provides that a charge be imposed on an external export inspection service that is provided in relation to a prescribed commodity specified in the regulations.

Section 7 provides that the rate of charge in respect of the provision of an export inspection service at an establishment is such rate, calculated by reference to time, as is applicable under the regulations to that establishment or to the class of establishments in which the establishment is included. Further, Section 7 provides that the rate of charge in respect of the provision of an external export inspection service is such rate, calculated by reference to time, as is applicable under the regulations to the prescribed commodity in relation to which the service is provided.

The Export Inspection (Service Charge) Regulations (the Regulations) prescribe commodities and the service charges payable by an establishment that is registered for operations associated with the preparation of those commodities for export.

The purpose of the Export Inspection (Service Charge) Regulations (Amendment) is to increase the fee for service for export inspections performed at establishments and externally in relation to fish or fish products from $60 to $66 for the initial half hour rate and from $30 to $33 for each quarter hour after the initial half hour.

The increases in the fee for service rates for the Export Fish Inspection Program are required to enable export inspection costs to be fully recovered in the 1997/98 financial year.

Industry has endorsed the fee increases in recognition of the recommendations of the Nairn Report on Quarantine Inspection and the Macdonald Review of the Meat Inspection Program which specified that there is to be no cross-subsidisation of costs between inspection programs within the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. As a result, both direct and indirect costs related to export fish inspection must be fully recovered by the program.

The Export Inspection (Service Charge) Regulations (Amendment) amends the Regulations as follows:

Regulation 1 - Commencement

Subregulation 1.1 provides that the Regulations as amended will commence on 16 December 1997.

Regulation 2 - Amendment

Subregulation 2.1 provides that the Regulations are amended as set out in the Export Inspection (Service Charge) Regulations (Amendment).

Regulation 3 - Rates of Charge

Subregulation 3.1 provides for an increase in the fee-for-service rate for the provision of an export inspection service at an establishment relating to, fish or fish products, from $60 to $66 for the first half hour or part thereof.

Subregulation 3.2 provides for an increase in the fee-for-service rate for the provision of an export inspection service at an establishment relating to fish or fish product, from $30 to $33 for each quarter hour after the initial half hour.

Subregulation 3.3 provides for an increase in the, fee-for-service rate for the provision of an external export inspection service relating to fish or fish products, from $60 to $66 for the first half hour or part thereof.

Subregulation 3.4 provides for an increase in the fee-for-service rate for the provision of an external export inspection service relating to fish or fish products, from $30 to $33 for each quarter hour after the initial half hour.