GENERAL OUTLINE

National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Act 1998

The proposed amendments insert the current levy rate of 0.3 of a cent per kilogram for honey produced in Australia and also increases the present maximum rate of 0.3 of a cent per kilogram to 0.6 of a cent per kilogram for honey produced in Australia in the National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Act 1998. The proposed amendment to the maximum levy rate has been put in place to allow the honey industry scope to expand its operative rate of levy by subordinate legislation where access to further funding for residue monitoring programs may be required.

FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT

The proposed amendments to the National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Act 1998 have no financial impact on the Commonwealth.

NOTES ON CLAUSES

Clause 1:       Short title

This clause provides for the short title of the Act to be the National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Amendment Act (No. 2) 2003.

Clause 2:       Commencement

This clause provides that the Act comes into effect on Royal Assent.

Clause 3:       Schedules

Clause 3 provides that each Act specified in a Schedule to the Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the schedule and that any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1 - NATIONAL RESIDUE SURVEY (EXCISE) LEVY ACT 1998

Item 1 Subclause 4(1) of Schedule 7

This item inserts the current rate of operative levy applying to honey under subordinate legislation into the National Residue Survey (Customs) Levy Act 1998.

Item 2 Subclause 4(1) of Schedule 7

This item inserts a new maximum rate of levy that allows industry scope for expansion of its operative rate of levy by subordinate legislation in the event of any exotic disease outbreak where access to further funding for residue monitoring programs may be required.

Item 3 Application of amendments

This item allows for these amendments to apply on honey sold after the commencement of this item.