Passionfruit levy
What is the statutory levy on passionfruit?
The statutory passionfruit levy is gathered from ALL commercial growers across Australia to fund research and development (R&D) projects and Marketing initiatives to improve productivity, profitability and ensure the long-term sustainability of the passionfruit industry for all stakeholders.
The current levy rate is:
Loose, fresh passionfruit – Grade 1 and Grade 2: 40 cents per 18‐litre carton
Loose, fresh passionfruit – Grade 1 and Grade 2: 40 cents per 8 kilograms, if not packed in cartons
Processing passionfruit: 3 cents per kilogram
Rates are current as at 1 October 2013. Australian Government levies exclude GST.
Levies are collected at the point of sale. For most passionfruit production, this will be at the market agent who is handling the wholesale transaction for the grower. Levies are normally already deducted from the grower return received by the grower from the wholesale agent at payment.
Who manages the levy money?
The levy is collected by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, and investment of these funds is managed by Hort Innovation, a not-for-profit, grower-owned Research and Development Corporation (RDC) for Australia’s $9 billion horticulture industry.
How does the levy work?
Growers currently pay $0.40 for every box of passionfruit that leaves the farm gate and the money is collected by the levy revenue service via the wholesale agents in the markets. 50% of that levy is currently spent on marketing activities designed to build demand for passionfruit with Australian consumers. The remaining 50% is matched by government investment and is invested into research & development projects designed to lift productivity and profitability.
Where can I get more information about Agricultural Levies?
The Department of Agriculture impose levies and charges on agricultural products at the request of primary industries (agriculture, fisheries and forestry producers and their representatives).
Whether a levy or charge is imposed depends on whether the product is sold, processed or used to produce other goods in Australia, or exported:
- Levies are duties of excise on certain goods produced, manufactured, sold or distributed in Australia.
- Charges are duties of customs on goods imported to or exported out of Australia.
There are currently more than 110 levies and charges collected on more than 70 commodities across the agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors.
The Department of Agriculture disburse these levy and charge funds to levy recipient bodies. They will then invest in the activities the levy or charge was imposed to fund.
