Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

[Index] [Search] [Download] [Related Items] [Help]

GRAIN LEGUMES LEVY REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1992 NO. 442

STATUTORY RULES 1992 No. 442

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 a Commonwealth contribution, are used to finance a program of research of benefit to the grain legumes industry. The administrative arrangements for the grain legumes research scheme are prescribed by the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989.

Currently, leviable grain legumes include lupins, field peas, Vicia faba (faba beans), Cicer arietinum (chick peas), Vigna radiata, Vigna mungo (mung beans), Cajanus cajan (pigeon peas), peanuts and Phaseolus vulgaris (navy beans). The maximum levy rate allowable is 3 per cent of the value of the leviable grain legume. Currently, a 1 per cent ad valorem levy applies for all leviable grain legumes. Proposals to include additional grain legumes in the grain legumes research scheme, and their appropriate rate of levy, are based on recommendations to the Minister by the growers' organisation, prescribed by regulation as the Grains Council of Australia.

The Grains Council of Australia has requested that Lens culinaris (lentils), Vicia sativa (vetch), Vigna unquiculata and Vigna vexillata (cowpeas) be added to the scheme and that the levy rate be 1 per cent of the value, in line with the rate currently applying to all leviable grains.

The proposed amendment to regulations provides for the inclusion of these species as leviable grain legumes from 1 January 1993, which coincides with the commencement of the second quarterly collection period for the current season.

The grain legumes research levy is paid to the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) with the Commonwealth Government contributing matching amounts to a maximum of 0.5 per cent of the gross value of production calculated as prescribed by regulation. These funds are to cover research agreed by the GRDC consistent with annual operational plans approved by the Minister.

The broadening of the levy base will permit an expanded research program for these grain legumes which will assist the industry in further increasing its competitiveness.

Details of the proposed Regulations (Amendment) are:

Regulation 1 provides a commencement date for the regulations.

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

Regulation 3 adds Lens culinaris (lentils), Vicia sativa (vetch), Vigna unguiculata and Vigna vexillata (cowpeas) to the list of prescribed seeds defined as leviable grain legumes.

Regulation 4 omits regulation 5 that prescribed a different levy rate per tonne for Phaseolus vulgaris (navy beans) which is now the ad valorem rate of 1 per cent applying to all leviable grain legumes.