On 2 March 2011 the Ginger Industry R&D Levy regulations were tabled in Parliament. The regulations introduce from 1 April 2011 a new statutory R&D levy on ginger payable to the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. The levy has been implemented under the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999 and the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991 The ad valorem levy rate on ginger growers is a half of one per cent (0.5%) on the sale of fresh ginger, seed ginger, organic ginger and ginger for processing, to be collected at the first domestic point of sale. Exemptions apply to fresh ginger sold on the export market, ginger sold direct to the public through farmers markets and roadside stalls and seed ginger used by seed producers to grow their own ginger. The levy will attract Australian Government matching payments for eligible R&D expenditure. A RIS was prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and approved by the OBPR.
