What can we do for you?

The APC is a catalyst for generating new technology and promoting Western Australian produce. Essentially, the APC provides the financial management facility so your industry can raise funds for a range of initiatives, including:

• Establishing a compensation scheme for producers whose produce is destroyed due to pests or diseases
  
  
• Establishing inspection systems for grading, packaging and storage of agriculture produce.
  
  
• Assisting in developing systems for quality control or pest and disease control
  
  
• Formulating schemes for helping producers gain accreditation
  
  
• Establishing a voluntary crop insurance scheme
  
  
• Developing and expanding new markets
  
  
• Developing educational programs
  
  
• Undertaking market forecasting
  
  
• Undertaking research

Setting up an APC Producers Committee

As an agricultural producer you will benefit if your industry establishes an APC producers committee. You have an opportunity to work together with other producers of your industry to improve your product through a variety of methods and initiatives; and your ideas are welcome in the process. In other words, you have a say in how your words are used in the further development or promotion of your industry.

How does an APC producers’ committee operate?

An APC producers committee is established after a period consultation with producers and approval given at an industry poll.

APC committees are made up of five or more people and all producers of the particular agriculture produce are eligible to nominate themselves to serve on the committee. The Commission can appoint committee members or a poll of producers is held to elect members. The term of office of members is for three years and they can nominate for further term.

The chief function of APC committees is to estimate the annual costs for providing particular services to producers and recommend a "fee for service" that producers pay to cover the cost of initiatives, the fee for service is applied to all produce sold. The services that can be provided by an APC Committee are listed under the Section 12.1 of the Act and producers vote for the provision of some or all of the services at the committee establishment poll.

The collection of the fee for service is normally through dealers, such as; market agents, wholesalers, exporters or retailers. Although other collection methods that are more appropriate to particular industry sectors may be considered. When approved by the Minister the fee for service is compulsory, this ensures that just as the benefits received by the producers are shared so is the cost.

The committee prepares an annual budget and is submitted to the APC for final approval by the Minister.

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