1 FEBRUARY

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

Tariff and Development Board Notice No. 328—Inquiry Concerning Protection Affecting the New Zealand Industry Producing Certain Chemicals of Types Used as Agricultural Chemicals, Fungicides, etc., or for Use in the Manufacture of Agricultural Chemicals, etc.—Public Hearing

1. Following receipt by the Minister of Customs of a report from the Emergency Protection Authority, on the subject of protection for the New Zealand industry producing MCPB and 2,4-DB weedkillers, the Minister notified the Board, in a letter dated 22 March 1972, that Government has accepted the recommendations of the Authority that a temporary protective duty of 20% ad valorem be imposed in respect of imports from all sources on the compounds of Tariff item 29.16.099, and for the fully formulated products of Tariff item 38.11.039, that the “C” allocation relating to item code 38.120 of the Import Licensing Schedule be continued and administered on the basis of a policy that licences should not be issued for these weedkillers unless imports are proved to be absolutely necessary. To give effect to the Authority’s duty recommendations MCPB and 2,4-DB (in compound form) were separately provided for in Tariff item 29.16.031 and the temporary additional duties became effective on 24 March 1972.

2. In accordance with the provisions of the Tariff and Development Board Act, the Minister of Customs has requested the Board to undertake an inquiry and report on the nature and degree of protection, if any, it considers necessary to protect the New Zealand industry producing MCPB and 2,4-DB classified in Tariff items 29.16.099 (now 29.16.031) and 38.11.039.

3. In two further letters to the Board, dated 13 March and 17 April 1972, the Minister of Customs referred to the Board for inquiry and report the question of the nature and extent of the protection, if any, which it considers appropriate for New Zealand industry in respect of the importation of various goods including the chemicals of Tariff items 29.07.009, 29.16.021, 29.16.029, 29.16.031, 29.16.098, 38.11.011, 38.11.019, 38.11.021, 38.11.022, Ex 38.11.023, Ex 38.11.029, 38.11.031, 38.11.033, 38.11.039, 38.11.041, 38.11.042, 38.11.049, Ex 38.11.099, 38.19.231, 38.19.232, 38.19.239. Subsequent to the receipt of these references and after discussions with representatives of the agricultural chemicals industry, the Board recommended the Minister to include the goods of Tariff items 29.19.000, 29.21.000, 29.25.000, 29.26.009, 29.31.000, 29.34.000 and 29.35.009. In a letter, dated 9 January 1973, the Minister asked the Board to add these items to its terms of reference.

4. The Board has incorporated all of the items referred to it—as set out in paragraphs 1–3 above—into a single inquiry. The current Tariff position in respect of the goods is set out in the Schedule to this notice.

5. For the purpose of taking evidence the Board will hold a public hearing commencing at 2.00 p.m. on Monday, 14 May 1973, in the Hearing Room, Eighth Floor, Cumberland House, Upper Willis Street, Wellington.

6. Parties intending to make representations or requests about appropriate rates of customs duty are asked to take into account the statement by the Minister of Overseas Trade of 6 September 1972 about changes in the New Zealand Customs Tariff. Copies of this statement can be obtained from the undersigned. Parties intending to make representations or requests about the exemption from import licensing of goods at present not so exempt are asked to take into account the statement in the 1972 Financial Statement (page 19) that “the Government has also decided that where the industry is to be exempted from import licensing there should be provision in appropriate cases for a phase-out period which in general will be for up to three years”.

7. Any person who intends to tender evidence should lodge, in typewritten form, 14 copies of public evidence and 12 copies of confidential evidence, to be presented under oath at the public hearing at the Board’s office no later than Thursday, 19 April 1973. In preparing this evidence the “Notes for Information and Guidance of Interested Parties” prepared by the Board may be of assistance. Copies of these notes may be obtained from the Board’s office.

Dated at Wellington this 30th day of January 1973.

C. H. S. RODDEN, Secretary, Tariff and Development Board.

P.O. Box 27046, Wellington.

SCHEDULE

*Or such lower rate of duty as the Minister may in any case direct.

†Effective 24.3.72 (E.P.A.)