JOIN US

How to join the APC?

Establishing an producers committee is a quite simple process, with maximum assistance offered by the APC. The process commences when an agricultural group formally requests the APC to establish a producers committee, the request usually is made after a long period consultation with both industry producers and the APC. The establishment procedure is set out in the following table.

PROCEDURES TO JOIN THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE COMMISSION

Following a request to establish a Producers’ Committee under the Agricultural Produce Commission Act the steps followed are:

  1. The APC considers the request and clarifies with the applicant(s) the function or functions (Section 12.1) of the proposed committee, the agricultural produce covered, the area of the State involved and poll type (postal or general meeting).
  2. The APC passes formal motion to initiate proceedings.
  3. The APC notifies the Minister of Agriculture of the intention to establish a committee and request directions as to how the Notice of Intention should be published.
  4. The Minister issues directions and the APC then publishes a Notice of Intention to establish the producers’ committee. This notice explains in simple terms the function(s) of the committee, specific agricultural commodity involved, the region, and invites submissions from affected producers as to the advisability of setting up the proposed committee.
  5. The Commission considers submissions received regarding setting up the proposed committee. The Commissioners may invite producers to facilitate its consideration of submissions.
  6. If the Commissioners decide to proceed then the applicant(s) pay a deposit to cover the cost of the poll. This deposit is refundable if the poll is successful.
  7. The Commissioners appoint a returning officer to conduct the poll.
  8. The APC compiles a list of producers to be polled.
  9. The APC publishes in relevant newspaper(s) a Notice of Intention to conduct a poll. Producers may submit a case for or against establishing a committee.
  10. The APC summarises any submissions and prepares a summary to go out with the polling papers.
  11. The returning officer appoints scrutineers.
  12. The poll is conducted and the returning officers publish the results in a newspaper.
  13. The Commissioners consider the results of the poll and decides whether to establish a committee. Approval is given by formal motion.
  14. The Commission publishes the establishment of the new committee in the Government Gazette and appropriate newspapers and producers are invited to nominate for appointment to the committee.

The Committee starts work, decides on services, sets fee for service and prepare budget.