Banana (Protection and Quality Control) Act (No. 33 of 1984)

SAINT VIN(ff;J:{'.l.' Al':ll 'l'B.B GltEU,1DIHEZ [ L. S. l ACT NO. 33 OF 1984 I ASSENT SYDNEY D. GUN-MUNRO, Governor-General. 28th December, 198.4 AN AC'r for the proteetion and r1nality control of Bananas. BJ.i: IT E:'-IACTED by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesly, lu a.ud with the advi<.e tu··id eon&ent o-f. the House of Assembly of Sajnt Vincent and the Grenadines and by the authority of the sanrn as folloYrs: [ 2nd January, 1985 ] 1. This Act 111ay be cited as the Banana (Protection aud Short .title. Quality Control) Act, 1984. 2. In this Act, unless tlie contest othenrise require,~:--- Interprelation. ".Association" E1E'a11s the "\Vind ward Islantls Ban'c\HU· Association Ltd; "Authority" means the Banana Quality Control Autlrnr 8 ity constituted under section 3; ~'h:inanas" meaus bananas of the varieties or kno-·.vn as robnsta, puerto riqn-c, poyo, br·atan, Giant Cavendish, Valery and such other varieties ,1.-; may be prescribed by the authority; ''b()~1.r1g -plant'' means an inst al1ation "·here bananas a-re tdehancled, deflowered, washed, treatrd nnd boxeU and v;·hich is Iicenced for this purpose under section 8; uboxing plant operator'' means a person wl10 in the opinion of the Authority is {'01npetN1t to operate a boxing plant or to he e1q:u1ged in the bqxin~ of L:111anas and who is litent::icd fur this purpvse nHder sedion 8; "buying e.ompanil's" llH';1ns Crest Llllnstries Limited, Gef'st IndustriPs (\V.I.) Limited or the lJ('r~on who for thp tirn(' llC'ing has the stat.ufor.\~ or r-ont.rarhrnl right to pnrehase exportable hananM> from ihe Assol'it1tion; ,;(•nttinz period'' rneans either tl1e period rommPnring not HH>rf' tlurn 36 hom·s before the announeed end of a recPption period an'd enUing with the end of the r~teption period or 8!l{'h 0L1cr period as lll[!.}' be prc.'S(•ribcd by the Authority; "·0xporbhle lw.narws.'' means l;.rnanas whith have been l'J/;11wtl or harvested from a ]1oltli11g duri11g a cutting 1w1·iod ;rnd ffliid1 are not rejectahle bananas; '·field paekrd lxmanas" means buuanus whid1 have been pa(;ked for export without being ·washed n11<l processed in a boxing plant, and which ha;,Te Leen gtown, h!'lrvei;;tt ,d ,rnd p<:ll'kt'd in ati.:ordauce with the reg-ulatiuns for Field Pricking; "field parking" rnrans the proc·ess by whi<;l1 bananas are pa.·ke<l for export iu aceor<lant.:e ·with the rc-gulations for l;1idd Packing; 1 : fi(,l<l J)a('k shed'· nwan;;.; a shc'<l ·whieh is eoustructed for the ston1~,;"e of empty and pal'kcd cai·tons for field packed bauana~, and which shall so· be construd.cd iu ac-corclance with tlic regulations fvr Field Paekiug or in a manner approved by the Antho1·ity and which may have .fal'ili!ies for field pa eking; "field patkf'r" meaus a grower who lli:ls Uecn lirensecl by the Authority to be a field packer; ''governments'' mrans the GoYernments of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lue:-ia and Saint Vin~ent and the Grena~ dines; ''grOW<'t" 1neans a person for the time being ju posses sion or control of c1 holding, and ·who is rl!gi::.trred with the Association; "inland buying depot (IBD)-" mealls any installation at whic-h boxed bananas are deliv1?red hy grmWl'S to the .Assoeiation for purchase; "ishmd" mr-ans Saint Vincent anU the Gr1~nadl1ws; "mernber asso(•iations" means the members of \VINBAN; d Minister" means the ~Iinister to whom re:-;ponsibili• y for agrieultnre ls as~igne'd; ''reC'eption perio·,.1 1' means the pe~io<l from tin1e to tini~ publicly announced or advertiRed oy or for and on beh,1lf of the 1:\ssodation for the deliY ;ry of banauas to the Assoriation or to the buying co tipanies; "n•c·0ption depot" means a dep ,t at ,vhieh exportal:,1e bananas are ddiverc<l 10 the b,::/ ~g compani0~ :, ' ' rcjectable bananas'' means lHnd1tns ,rhieh are rejed ahle under regulations n:iade under -1.:] ~s Ad-; • '.\ihip'' means any ship engage} to carry export ah le bananas; ''vehiele.': merms any trnek or otL,'1.· medurnieal means of eonveyanc:e use'd during the ct,l-ung period to earry hu.uanas to un IBD~ buxiv.g pb-11, or l.'fJC'cptiou depot; '· \Y lNBAN ., m.P<ms the \YinLi ,\'.lr<l Islands Banana Urov,;ers Association-A company i1L~or1Jorated nndtT the laws of Do-miniea. 3. \VINBAN is hereby declared t:1.nd f'stablishr<l to be the B~trurna (Protedion aud Quality \.,:cntrcl) Authority antl »s sud1.. the Authority for the purpos :s of thls Act. 4. ity: (1) It shall be \lie function a,d du y of the Author• (a) to a!Jminister and earr·- e,ut : he proY1s10ns of this Ad, an<l ronsh,tent y th1°,·ewiih to apprnye standards and to insti1 .JV measures in behalf of the proteetion of e.xp, ,rraMc• bananas an<l the maintenan<:e and enba1Jc•r. 1n<:11t of the quality thereof, and (b) to make recommendations to the Governments of th~ islands iu regal'(1 to the better carrying out of the purpose of this Act and in regard to the measurl's aforesai1<l. Estah1l!,hment of the Authority, FtnHitions and rluties of t11e Authority. Establishment and functions of the C.o,tumi.ttee, Certain privilegf'S of the Auth.oritr. (2) The AuthoYity ir:ay, from tin:e to time delegate nny or .111 of it:-, l1uetio11.s to r.Jie AsL:o,·lation. 5. (]) F\1,t-11· - t•it:·:,-,,., , ,ther-::!f ;!,~:-:lL,l'us!c1L H,dwd a Cll; mnillc1, . tu Le 1i:u::.i 1.',·~- a:s t11e Darn.ma (P:rot.::d.ion uud. Quality Control) C1h1tmit! ci2. (:2) T11e Cvmmi Li,.;c shall co11.1r,rise : ( i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (Y) The- ~Tnn,•!!iH '.~ DirN·tor of \VINT~AN or his r,011·1inc·c• ,·iO!cr of \\'hom slwll ,wt as Clrnirrnnn nt fill 1:!rrtings of the Connnitter-, The GeJ.1eral .Jfon.'.lgrrs of JUPmLer Assoc·.i::rtions, 1\ 1ti"•1;,i1H.'c of tltc IUini~tc11•:-:; of Agrieultnre of tht.• GoYtrnmcnis, \\'L'-Jf~A~,,T's LJjn,.Clor O'f Ticscanh an<l ..:.\.. nominee of the Buying Company, Un !\o nd 01· proco:::ding- of t}1e Committee s1iall be i11Yalhlat~'t1 on nc-c·otmt of any Yl!,c-anty in its body. ( -±) The fuuetions of the Connnittre ~hall be to advise the AnUio1·ity ln rPgarcl to all rnattf'rs within the scope and objt1 Ct nf thi.s Ad. 6. (1) For the pUi.'pc,.c;;e of ex.anunmg the con<l.itioll of boxin~ plants, hotdings, ships arnl other places where banan~s are i1uDtllcJcl or for the p:.1rpose oi exa.minia}t er rejecting bari -11ws re<::eived thereat and grnerally for the purpose of the exercise of the Authorlty)s rigl11s and poi.vers uu<lfr this Act, tl1e Autlwrity and or il8 ch-11:r authorised l'!g1•nts shaJ1 have the right-dnri11g any cutting perlo<l or ,dthin :i 2 hnu~·s thrre~ brfore ()r thereafter-to 0nt.rr upon m1y Iulnnd DnyiHg D<'pot, boxiHg plant, fidd pnd;: r,h 0 d, l1olil.in,c~, rcerplion cl<>pot, ship, or nHwr places add ma v ext•rrisc that rirht with or without tlie a%if;.bmt•e nf police offieers. (2) No action, suit., prosecution er other proceeding shaJl be hronght or im,titntul against the Aulhority in re~pect of any af't done bona fide in the pnrsnance or ex.0~ution or inte.nc1ed execution of the provisions o-f this Act. 7. (1) 1t shall be th~ duty of every police officrr and of C'Yf':J'V R11rnl Crni.-;table tu assis.t the Authorlty fmd it:, i'i<'l'Yrrnt; ;mil a;.rent,c ; in the e1Jforeemrut of the pr;1vi~ions of this }, tL (~) 1 y pcn;on. ·wh 1-> obstnwt:;;, hi11ders1 wolcshi or assanlh ,111y clnly i(lcatifi.ed po-lice offleer or so·-vcmt or agent of the Auth: :irily c11g-a~ul in 111,:; performanee of nny d~1t:v nr in the exrr1·i~.>0 (Ji aii;r po1.rer irnpose:U or C'onffrri!d on l1im h.v ot· under an v 1n·0Yl! ,i•:--,:1 of this Aet shall be guilty of: nn offence and rlrnll 1!2 lia!Jl~ on snmnrnr;v etmvit-tion 10 a flue not e-:--eP.eding fiYr ltundred doUars 0r to irnpr1sonnwnt for 011" rnonth \\r to bc:h snc1i fine a11d imprisonment.. 8. (1) E:{ccpt with the perrni•;t:;lon of tlic Authority: (a) No exportable b,.rnana slrnll lJe boxc'd CX<'.cpt under the suprrvi~;on of a boxing phrnt opera tor or fiPld pack('r or his duly authorisNl ag:cnt; (b) No field packer shaa be allowed to bnx bananas from anv other gr,nve-r who is not licensed to fidrl r11ck. (2) A!ly g-rmvcr may apply to the Authority fnr a licn1ce to err(•1; and onf'1•atc a: hoxjni!' plant on his liol<ling or to he engaf!rd in the fidd rH-1cking of b,nrnm1:s and tlie Annuit•Hv rna~·-haYi11'2' rl'.'g-<1ra to sw-h frt<-tcr"' an\l (•irctrn1stancni as rna:r be 1n·cstribcd-gT,rnt or refuse· sueh liN•11ce. ( 3) A lkenl.'e granted unil('f t}ie provi.c;ion of sub 8edion (:2) of tl1Ls sedion rnay be revoked b v the Authority, if in the opinion of tlrn .Authority (a) the person to whom thP licence is g:rantPLl h,1;-; bern proYcd to be iucompetPut to operate bn.::-dng- plant:\ or 1 o firld pack or has ohtainnl, pa1'.kt>d nna prcsentf'd bananas for export klHYwing that surh ha1111nu,;. originated from a ho}rljng 1d1ich is not lie.ensP1d for Ji.eld pac-ldng:, 0r (li) tlir-rc hat-: h('rn 11 rnat.eri<1l brC'n.rh of the h'fJll/j and conc1il iou;:; undrr whith ihf' lic('nee 1Yas ii;:surd. Police Uuties. Doxivg- of Bananas. !1. (1) nuring a rcr ~cption pC'riod, rrjr-dftble bnnanas shall r~roliihitiou not lJP olf<•rr.d fnr :-.ale t.0 the A~'."iOl'.iatinn or its fl~ents or to against the Dn: µ-inQ.' Compani::i.~ or their aw~nts and any su('h offer shall snle hor f l . t d b th A . . ·t b . pure ase o )e reJec ,e y e , ssoc1at10n Ot' 1 -S <l'gents or y the Buymg reiectabl Companies or their agents re:-ipectively. Ba'nana:::i. e Dananas to bo '11c:,nlt '"i th ln the prrsrrilwd 111anner. Es;emptions. from duties U\\(l t~)'.:<.•~. (2) During a cutting periorl and witJ1in forty-eight liollrs before the commencement thererJf, the Authority or its dnly autliurised agcllts ::.ludl lw.Ye the right to mark or other wi~w i'dpntif~· (,\·ithout destro~·ing- any part of the bunch of) any rejrda ble banana brlonging to a gro"·cr. (3) Any person who without the permission @f the A 11thority sells or offers for sale to tl1e Assoc·iation or its agents or to the bnyinv colllp,111i.es or thei.l' aie.111s any rdC'd~ able bauana the offer fot sale of ,Yliieh w,is prc-riousl,v rcjee!,·<l under subsection ( l) Qf this seetion and r: uy person ,rho a ·.th or abets such sale or Jffcr for sale conuni; s an offence a.nd is liable on summfJ!'~- •J· victio·n to a fine not exceeding five hnnclrf'rl dollars '~l' to i·11prison111cnt for on~ mcnth m· to br,th :-;nch fine and irnrriso:nment. 10. (1) All '''J"L ,•, 1l1le bananas shall lie grmvn, harvested, proecs.-rncl, packe, :, h:~.1 .. dlf'd and otlterwL;c (lr•alt with and transported in the prc,0:c.:.·ibecl manner. (2) 'The J fFTit,v may, in the int<2rcst of resrarrh or 11·ith 1.llr nbjert. of ll '.Yi.sing and testing new and improYed rndliods of lia:1dling l rnaiias, by Jicen<'c under its comn1on seo.l c-xempt any ~rmn?s, n'R€'arc11 officer or other per~on from the pr0Yisio11s of t}ij,, ~cction .for the period f.Prrified in tl1P 1it(•11ee, nucl i11 frat ev: ·nt t11c proYision.:; of this SPetion slrnll nr1t npplv to tk1t g-ro',vcr. re8earch officer or other \)C.r9--Gn dnring t]wt peric1d. (:.n Any l)P">;{·n "\Yho rontrriYenrs <1fl.\' of the pro. v1s1irn~ nf ~nbsPr1 ion ( ~-) of tl1is scctio·n commits an offt>1H'e ~nrl i-. liahlf> 0n ~nm ,1;:ry conviction to a fine not exrredinf! flH' lrnnc1rrd <ln1l;n·R. 11. (a) All nw.tni,tls, equipment, stores, vehides and othc1: g-(•o:1s wlwtsoever, a1:quired hy t}Je AuUiur ity arc e·rnrnpt from customs duty and other <lntics, a1':J. taxes. (b) The iuconw of tht> Authoritv 1s exe1npt froJU liability tu I1il'ome Tax. · 12. (1) Ti,e Autbority 1m, ,. makP rrgulations (a) pre:wl'ihing- anyt.hing 1Yhil'h m1'der the 1n·o,-isions of this Ad. is to br prc•;cribcd; (Ji) rr~·cn·cling tlie prn:JCT treatment, scleetion, rt·,icdirrn, proecs.-,ing', packing, stcwking, hand• lin:=r, stnra\-!e- and frt1..n~portati.on of exportable lJatJ.ti.li.lS; ( (') 1·1•<:.uirrling boxing pl.tuts and open1tions at box i11:.r J)laiits and :Aeld patki11g; (,J) pi.:t,\·iding a.ny me.,:1:-.nres w\iaboev,:r Im· t1\e pl'o tediuu of exportable bawuws aud tlte 11winten aurc aud e11hauc:0JlH.'11t of tl1eir quality; an'd (e) g-cnPraUy the ileU-n carrying- out u± the pur pose~ of this .Aet. (2) R1..•gubtions made by the Auib<Jri:,r 8hall J1aYe nu cffcd until app1·oycd by the lHiniskr. (:3) The regulati:)·11s contained in t1ir Sc1icclnle to this Act ,ne wade UlJcl~•r the proYi.-::ions vf tl1is :-;ec1ion.