Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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NATIONAL RESIDUE SURVEY (CATTLE TRANSACTIONS) LEVY REGULATIONS 1996 NO. 164

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

STATUTORY RULES 1996 No. 164

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

National Residue Survey (Cattle Transactions) Levy Act 1995

National Residue Survey (Cattle Transactions) Levy Regulations

The National Residue Survey (Cattle Transactions) Levy Act 1995 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing a levy amount for the purposes of the Act.

The Act provides for the imposition of a National Residue Survey levy, within the meaning of the National Residue Survey Administration Act 1992.

The regulations increase the NRS levy by 4 cents, implementing the Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) recommendations. The rate of levy is increased to 32 cents from the previous 28 cents (provided for in the Act) per transaction.

The CCA is recognised as the peak industry body representing cattle producers, the principal levy payers. At its Annual General Meeting held on 29/30 April 1996, the CCA resolved to ask the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy to increase this levy. The CCA request to the Minister on 23 May 1996 also sought an offset fourteen cent reduction in a separate Cattle Transaction Levy Act 1.9.95 rate, dealt with in a separate statement, resulting in a net ten cent levy reduction affecting only adult cattle transactions.

The NRS underpins an integrated approach to national management of residues and other contaminants in food, feed and fibre products. Industries are clients of the Government of the day, the Minister for Primary industry and Energy, the Department of Primary Industries and Energy and the Bureau of Resource Sciences in terms of program delivery. The NRS administers a broad-based residue monitoring program for participating commodities. Activities include development of programs in consultation with industry and government agencies, coordination of sample collection, procurement of laboratories, management and reporting of results.

The reason for the NRS levy increase is increasing demands placed on the NRS by the cattle industry in terms of its targeted chemical residue monitoring programs. Since the previous levy rate was established, the NRS has had to deal with additional targeted testing in areas of organochlorine, chlorfluazuron, and fluazuron residues, the National Antibacterial Residue Monitoring Program, and a three month survey of drought affected areas to ascertain the presence of 'seasonal' residues. Enhanced endosulfan monitoring is also anticipated in future.

Details of the regulations are:

Regulation 1 cites the Regulations as the National Residue Survey (Cattle Transactions) Levy Regulations.

Regulation 2 provides for a commencement date of 1 August 1996.

Regulation 3 is an interpretation provision.

Regulation 4 prescribes the rate of 32 cents (replacing the previous rate of 28 cents).