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At the industry Annual General Meeting in Canberra, Australian pig farmers endorsed the proposal to increase the pig slaughter levy by 90 cents.
The pig slaughter levy funds are collected from producers to support the peak industry body Australian Pork Limited (APL) undertake Marketing, Research and Development and Policy activities on behalf of the industry. The proposed increase would effectively take the total slaughter levy allocated to APL from $2.35 per pig slaughtered to $3.25.
Currently the levy received by APL, via the Federal Government, is split $1.00 for Research and Development (R&D) and $1.35 for Marketing. The proposed increase is only relevant for the Marketing portion of the levy and will increase that part of the levy to $2.25.
Pork producers agreed for the increase to occur over three tranches.The first stage of the levy increase to be $0.30 would come into effect from around 1 July 2012. The second stage is proposed to be an additional $0.30 and would come into effect from 1 July 2014; and the third and final stage $0.30 would take effect from 1 July 2016.
After broad industry consultation, 235 producers, accounting for 83 per cent of eligible levies, voted on the levy proposal. Of those votes placed, 73 per cent were in favour of an increase and 27 per cent voted against.
Wednesday November 16, 2011/ Asutralian Pork/ Australia.
http://www.australianpork.com.au
