Fees and Charges: Meat Inspection
- Meat Export Program Fees and Charges 1 December
- Meat Export Program Fees and Charges 18 December
- Scenarios providing examples for the calculation
The government is funding the Export Certification Reform Package, worth $127.4 million over the next eighteen months to mid 2011. It includes a new set of export fees and charges to return industry to full cost recovery.
From 1 December 2009 AQIS export certification and inspection services will return to full cost recovery. However due to legislative processes registration charges will not commence until 18 December 2009. Details of registration charges will be circulated in separate notice.
As part of the Export Certification Reform Package there is $85.3 million for fee rebates to assist exporters to transition to the new fees and charges. This funding will be used to provide a 40 percent offset of the full cost impact on export industries to 30 June 2011. The rebates will be automatically applied to all invoiced fees and charges.
A schedule of fees and charges is provided at Attachment A. Charging Guidelines are available on the AQIS website from 1 December 2009.
Further detail can be obtained by contacting:
Erik Lielkajis, Meat Export Program
Phone: 02 8334 7458
Email
Background
In line with the recommendations of the independent review of quarantine and biosecurity arrangements, One biosecurity: a working partnership (the Beale Review), the 40% contribution towards AQIS export certification functions lapsed as scheduled on 30 June 2009. In conjunction, the Government announced $60 million in funding to support reform of export certification services to coincide with the return to full cost recovery.
New export fees and charges commenced on 1 July 2009 to support a return to full cost recovery. On 15 September 2009 the Senate passed a motion to disallow the new fees and charges.
Following disallowance, AQIS export fees and charges immediately reverted to those that were in place prior to 1 July 2009. The disallowance of the export fees and charges did not reinstate the 40% contribution which was in place prior to 1 July 2009. Consequently, significant shortfalls in revenue were experienced by all export programs.
Further, the shortfall in cash reserves that resulted from this decision meant this important reform agenda could not be progressed at this time due to budget constraints. Additionally, the shortfall in revenue against export certification program costs resulted in deficits accumulating for each industry sector.
Attachment A
Meat Export Program Fees and Charges
|
Meat Export Program Fees and Charges |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 December 2009 |
||||
|
Fee/Charge Type |
Unit |
Charge |
Rebate |
Balance |
|
Fee-For-Service |
|
|
|
|
|
Meat Inspector - Annual |
annual |
$99,444.00 |
($39,777.60) |
$59,666.40 |
|
Meat Inspector - Monthly |
monthly |
$9,041.00 |
($3,616.40) |
$5,424.60 |
|
Meat Inspector - Weekly |
weekly |
$3,166.00 |
($1,266.40) |
$1,899.60 |
|
Meat Inspector - Daily |
daily |
$634.00 |
($253.60) |
$380.40 |
|
Meat Inspector - Hourly |
hourly |
$80.00 |
($32.00) |
$48.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Veterinary Officer - Annual |
annual |
$159,188.00 |
($63,675.20) |
$95,512.80 |
|
Veterinary Officer - Monthly |
monthly |
$14,472.00 |
($5,788.80) |
$8,683.20 |
|
Veterinary Officer - Weekly |
weekly |
$5,067.00 |
($2,026.80) |
$3,040.20 |
|
Veterinary Officer - Daily |
daily |
$1,014.00 |
($405.60) |
$608.40 |
|
Veterinary Officer - Hourly |
hourly |
$127.00 |
($50.80) |
$76.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Area Technical Manager |
hourly |
$215.00 |
($86.00) |
$129.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification |
|
|
|
|
|
EXDOC Certification |
document |
$49.00 |
($19.60) |
$29.40 |
|
Manual Certification |
document |
$100.00 |
($40.00) |
$60.00 |
|
Replacement Certificate |
document |
$500.00 |
($200.00) |
$300.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overtime and Shift |
|
|
|
|
|
Meat Inspector |
|
|
|
|
|
Single time |
qtr hour |
$7.50 |
($3.00) |
$4.50 |
|
Time and half |
qtr hour |
$11.20 |
($4.48) |
$6.72 |
|
Double time |
qtr hour |
$14.90 |
($5.96) |
$8.94 |
|
Double time and half |
qtr hour |
$18.70 |
($7.48) |
$11.22 |
|
Shift loading weekday |
qtr hour |
$1.10 |
($0.44) |
$0.66 |
|
Shift loading Saturday |
qtr hour |
$3.60 |
($1.44) |
$2.16 |
|
Shift loading Sunday |
qtr hour |
$7.20 |
($2.88) |
$4.32 |
|
Shift loading Public Holiday |
qtr hour |
$10.80 |
($4.32) |
$6.48 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Veterinary Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Time and half |
qtr hour |
$16.70 |
($6.68) |
$10.02 |
|
Double time |
qtr hour |
$22.20 |
($8.88) |
$13.32 |
|
Double time and half |
qtr hour |
$27.80 |
($11.12) |
$16.68 |
|
Shift loading weekday |
qtr hour |
$1.70 |
($0.68) |
$1.02 |
|
Shift loading Saturday |
qtr hour |
$5.40 |
($2.16) |
$3.24 |
|
Shift loading Sunday |
qtr hour |
$10.70 |
($4.28) |
$6.42 |
|
Shift loading Public Holiday |
qtr hour |
$16.10 |
($6.44) |
$9.66 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registration |
|
|
|
|
|
Base Registration # |
annual |
$2,817.00 |
($1,126.80) |
$1,690.20 |
|
Per Capita Registration # |
annual |
$14,985.00 |
($5,994.00) |
$8,991.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
|
|
Meat Export License |
license |
$500.00 |
n/a |
$500.00 |
|
Meat Chemical App |
application |
$200.00 |
n/a |
$200.00 |
|
Meat Chemical Approval-Additional |
application |
$50.00 |
n/a |
$50.00 |
NEW REGISTRATION CHARGES – 18 DECEMBER 2009
The government is funding the Export Certification Reform Package, worth $127.4 million over the next eighteen months to mid 2011. It includes a new set of export fees and charges to return industry to full cost recovery.
From 18 December 2009 Registration Charges will recommence for Meat Export Establishments. Registration Charges for meat export establishments were last imposed in 2001 along with the introduction of the 40% Export Contribution and since this time AQIS has undertaken significant reform to the structure of these charges. The reforms have been implemented to provide greater equity for the collection of Registration Charges across the meat export industry.
Registration Charges for meat export establishment will now be collected across two components;
A base registration charge which will apply to all establishments registered to produce, prepare, handle or store meat and meat products for export.
and
A per capita charge which will apply to all establishments requiring an on-going AQIS inspection presence at their establishment. All AQIS authorised officers will be included in the calculation of the base registration charge.
Both components of the total registration charge will be collected in equal monthly instalments.
As part of the Export Certification Reform Package there is $85.3 million for fee rebates to assist exporters to transition to the new fees and charges. This funding will be used to provide a 40 percent offset of the full cost for export industries to 30 June 2011, including a rebate that will apply to registration charges.
A schedule of the Registration charges is provided at Attachment A and examples for the calculation of Registration Charges are provided at Attachment B.
Charging Guidelines will be available on the AQIS website from 18 December 2009.
Further detail can be obtained by contacting:
Erik Lielkajis, Meat Export Program
Phone: 02 8334 7458
Email
Background
Since its introduction in 2001 the 40% contribution was applied in a manner that funded the activities previously recovered through Registration Charges. In line with the recommendations of the independent review of quarantine and biosecurity arrangements, One biosecurity: a working partnership (the Beale Review), the 40% contribution towards AQIS export certification functions lapsed as scheduled on 30 June 2009. The lapsing of this contribution necessitates the reintroduction of Registration Charges for the Meat Export Industry.
New Registration Charges were reintroduced on 1 July 2009, these charges also reintroduced the previous charging structure which was based on tonnage throughput at an establishment. In September 2009 an inquiry was held in the Senate to consider the new export fees and charges. During the inquiry several submissions were heard regarding the prohibitive impact of a tonnage based approach to Registration Charges for small to medium establishments. Subsequently the Senate passed a motion to disallow the charges along with other export fees.
As a result of this decision AQIS export fees and charges immediately reverted to those that were in place prior to 1 July 2009. The disallowance of the export fees and charges did not reinstate the 40% contribution and consequently the Meat Export Program faced significant funding shortfalls. This situation prevented the progress of and important reform agenda and resulted in deficits accumulating for each industry sector.
Responding to industry’s concerns AQIS has restructured the collection arrangements for meat export establishment registration charges. These charges are now aligned to the provision of inspection services at the establishment. This approach represents a better reflection of the relationship between AQIS and the services provided to the meat export industry. The new structure also addresses the impact of the cost of registration charges on small and medium establishments.
Attachment B
The following scenarios provide examples for the calculation of the average AQIS inspection presence and the calculation of the annual registration charge;
a) An establishment requires no ongoing AQIS inspection presence for the period July to June.
Base Registration Charge= $2,817
Registration Rebate= ($1,126.80)
Annual Registration Charge= $1,690.20
b) An establishment requires the presence of one AQIS Veterinarian and one AQIS Meat Inspector for the period July to June.
Average inspection presence = 2 x 12/12 = 2
Base Registration Charge = $2,817 +
Per Capita Charge = $14,985*2
Registration Rebate = ($1,126.80 + $5,994*2)
Annual Registration Charge = $19,672.20
c) An establishment requires the presence of one AQIS Veterinarian and one AQIS Meat Inspector for the period July to June. During a peak period the establishment requires the presence of an additional AQIS Meat Inspector for the period January to March.
Average inspection presence = (2 x 12) + (1 x 3)/12 = 2.3
Base Registration Charge = $2,817 +
Per Capita Charge = $14,985*2.3
Registration Rebate = ($1,126.80 + $5,994*2.3)
Annual Registration Charge = $22,369.50
d) Due to seasonal considerations an establishment operates only in the period Sep to June. During that period the establishment requires the services of one AQIS Veterinarian.
Average inspection presence = 1 x 9/9 = 1
Base Registration Charge = $2,817 +
Per Capita Charge = $14,985*1
Registration Rebate = ($1,126.80 + $5,994*1)
Annual Registration Charge = $10,681.20
e) Due to importing country requirements an establishment requires the presence of an AQIS Inspector for a total of eight days per month (or two days per week) to oversee its operations.
Average inspection presence= 0.42 x 12/12 = 0.53
Base Registration Charge = $2,817 +
Per Capita Charge = $14,985*0.5
Registration Rebate = ($1,126.80 + $5,994*0.5)
Annual Registration Charge = $6,185.70
Additional Information
For the purpose of calculating the 2009/2010 Registration Charge;
- For existing establishments at the 18th of December 2009 the Base Registration and Per Capita Charge will be applied on a pro rata basis for the period 18 December 2009 to 30 June 2010 by the formula;
Amount of Charge * 195 days/365 days - For establishments registered after 18th December 2009 a pro rata calculation will be applied by the formula;
No of Days between Registration Date and 30 June 2010/365 days - For the purpose of calculating the 2009/2010 Per Capita Charge the establishment’s 2009/2010 agreed allocation (ie the number of meat inspectors and veterinary officers provided under a Service Delivery Contract) as at the 18th of December will be used. For example;
An establishment has an agreed allocation of 1 Veterinary Officer and 1 Meat Inspector entered into on 1 July 2009 for the 2009/2010 financial year. The agreed allocation as at the 18th December will be taken to be 1 Veterinary Officer and 1 Meat Inspector, the per capita charge will be 2*$14,985 (subject to pro rata calculation and rebate).
An establishment has an agreed allocation of 1 Veterinary Officer and 1 Meat Inspector entered into on 1 September for the remainder of the 2009/2010 financial year. The agreed allocation as at the 18th December will be taken to be 1 Veterinary Officer and 1 Meat Inspector, the per capita charge will be 2*$14,985 (subject to pro rata calculation and rebate).
An establishment has an agreed allocation of 1 Veterinary Officer for eight days per month (or 2 days per week) entered into on 1 July for the 2009/2010 financial year. The agreed allocation as at the 18th December will be taken to be 0.4 of a Veterinary Officer, the per capita charge will be 0.5*$14,985 (subject to pro rata calculation and rebate).4
An establishment has an agreed allocation of 1 Veterinary Officer entered into on 1 September for the September to November period in the 2009/2010 financial year. The agreed allocation as at 18th of September will be taken to be 0.25 of a Veterinary Officer, the per capita charge will be 0.5*$14,985 (subject to pro rata calculation and rebate).5
-
For the purpose of calculating the Per Capita Charge for 2010/2011 and beyond;
The average agreed allocation for the prior financial year will be used.
2 The allocation is determined against an average servicing capacity of 20 days per month
3 For the purpose of calculating the annual registration charge a minimum presence of 0.5 will be applied in all circumstances
4 The per capita charge calculation applies regardless of whether the AQIS officer is actually present at the establishment on 18th December 2009.
5 The agreed allocation is in respect of the 2009/2010 financial year. The per capita charge calculation applies regardless of whether the AQIS officer is actually present at the establishment on 18th December 2009.