Australia: W. Australian potato industry to be deregulated by year-end
Seventy years after a bill was introduced regulating Western Australia’s potato industry, new legislation has been introduced in State Parliament to abolish the regulating Act and the Potato Marketing Corporation (PMC).
News site abc.net.au reports that Agriculture Minister Dean Nalder said the change, which follows a campaign by growers including Spud Shed founder Tony Galati, would benefit both consumers and producers.
"Deregulating the potato industry will provide growers with greater choice and flexibility to pursue a range of markets and value-adding opportunities," he said.
"Consumers will benefit from a greater choice of potatoes and lower prices in the market place."
Mr Nalder said the PMC was one of only two statutory agricultural marketing organisations across Australia still in operation
He said retaining a regulated market in WA had left a significant impact on the state.
The regulatory arrangements have also imposed a cost on growers, who currently pay a levy to help fund the PMC.
"The PMC’s costs were $2.79 million in 2012-13, equivalent to $53.87 per tone," Mr Nalder said.
The Government aims to deregulate the industry by the end of the year.
Click here to read the article at abc.net.au.
Fuente: http://www.freshplaza.com/article/160153/W.-Australian-potato-industry-to-be-deregulated-by-year-end
