Update on Proposed Aussie Pig Levy Amendments
AUSTRALIA - Over the past few weeks Australian Pork Limited (APL) has widely communicated to levy payers the details regarding an amendment to the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Regulation Act 1999.This amendment would adjust the levy rates within the limits set through this act, which takes 30c from the marketing levy and moves that amount to research and development.
At the recent Delegates Forum in Sydney a signal of agreement was made relating to this amendment. A thorough discussion took place, followed by a delegate vote. The result of that vote was 31 – 0 in favour of altering the levy.
APL has now lodged a supplementary submission to government with the outcome of the unanimous vote taken at the Delegates Forum. Additionally, APL is also required to immediately communicate to industry the process for objection as per Levy Principles and Guidelines Checklist 3.2 I
‘Formal objections will be accepted by the Minister, Parliamentary Secretary or Department Of Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries (DAFF) within six weeks of the date of formal lodgement of the proposal, along with its supporting documentation.
- The objection should clearly outline the reasons why the levy is opposed and should include an analysis of the pro-levy argument. Most importantly it should include documentary evidence that actual and/or potential levy payers oppose the implementation of the levy.’