Thursday, 22 November 2012 11:32

Views sought on HEA changes

Written by Pamela Tipa

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

The Ministry for Primary Industries is seeking public views on possible changes to the Horticulture Export Authority (HEA) Act.

The HEA provides a voluntary mechanism for horticulture industries to jointly fund and organise activities that support successful exporting, such as quality assurance, promotion and marketing.

Export earnings for industries currently using the HEA totalled $264.6 million in 2012.

MPI is seeking feedback on some specific issues identified in consultation with the sector.

"A recent independent review showed that the HEA remains popular with small export-based horticultural industries," says MPI forestry and plant sector policy manager Lisa Winthrop.

"But we have identified some opportunities to make the HEA more functional, useful, effective and efficient, and possibly reduce compliance costs, as well as updating some provisions."

The four key areas where feedback is sought are: enabling different markets to have different programmes; clarifying entry and exit procedures; questioning whether licence application assessment criteria are adequate; and questioning whether enforcement and penalty provisions are adequate.

The consultation will be open for public submissions until 5pm on Friday, February 15, 2013.

For further information, see
http://www.mpi.govt.nz/news-resources/consultations/review-of-the-nz-horticulture-export-authority-act

More like this

MPI cuts 391 jobs

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.

Biosecurity award for M. bovis work

A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.

Frontline biosecurity 'untouchable'

Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has reiterated that 'frontline' biosecurity services within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will not be cut under the Government's plan to reduce the public service.

Farmers fined for cattle abuse

A Waikato cattle farming family have been fined $23,000 for failing to provide sufficient food and care for their animals, resulting in more than half a dozen animal deaths.

More!

OPINION: As this old mutt suggested in the last issue, MPI looks a very good candidate for some serious public sector savings that the government is currently looking for.

Featured

Feds make case for rural bank lending probe

Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.

A rollercoaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers

The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.

MPI job cuts 'won't disrupt organisational structure'

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.