Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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GRAIN LEGUMES LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1991 NO. 47

STATUTORY RULES 1991 No. 47

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

GRAIN LEGUMES LEVY ACT 1985

GRAIN LEGUMES LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)

The Grain Legumes Levy Act 1985 (the Act) provides for the imposition of a levy on leviable grain legumes. The amount raised by the levy, along with matching Commonwealth funds to the level of 0.5% of the gross value of production, is used to finance a program of research of benefit to the grain legume industry. The administrative arrangements for the grain legumes research scheme are prescribed by the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989.

At present, leviable grain legumes include lupins, field peas, Vicia faba (faba beans), Cicer arietinum (chick peas), Vigna radiata and Vigna mungo (mung beans), Calanus cajan (pigeon peas) and peanuts. The maximum .levy rate allowable for any one grain legume is $5-00 per tonne. All leviable grain legumes are levied at the rate of $1-25 per tonne currently, except peanuts which attract a rate of $2-00 per tonne. Proposals to include additional grain legumes in the scheme, and their appropriate rate of levy, are considered by the Minister on the basis of recommendations by the growers' organisation, prescribed by regulation as the Grains Council of Australia.

The Grains Council of Australia has requested that Phaseolus vulgaris (navy beans) be added to the grain legumes research scheme and that the levy rate be $5-00 per tonne. Navy beans have a high unit value compared with other grain legumes covered by the scheme.

The proposed amendment to regulations provides for the inclusion of Phaseolus vulgaris as a leviable grain legume from 1 April 1991. Thus, levy would be imposed in respect of the entire 1991 crop. The grain legumes research levy has been attached to the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) with effect from 1 October 1990. The Commonwealth Government will contribute matching amounts to cover research expenditure recommended by the GRDC and approved by the Minister. In any one financial year, the Commonwealth contribution is limited to 0.5% of gross value of production.

The broadening of the levy base will permit an expanded navy bean research program which will assist the industry in further increasing its competitiveness.

Details of the proposed Regulations (Amendment) are set out in the attachment.

ATTACHMENT

GRAIN LEGUMES LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)

Regulation 1 provides a commencement date for the regulations (Amendment).

Regulation 2 provides for the existing Grain Legumes Levy Regulations to be amended.

Regulation 3 adds Phaseolus vulgaris (navy beans) to the list of prescribed seeds defined as leviable grain legumes.

Regulation 4 provides for the rate of levy in respect of Phaseolus vulgaris to be $5.00 per tonne.