Commencement: 1 February 1982

LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
REVISED EDITION 1988

CHAPTER 133

VANUATU COMMODITIES MARKETING BOARD

Act 10 of 1981

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

PART I
Interpretation

1.	Interpretation

PART II
Control of Prescribed Commodities

2.	Control on export of prescribed commodities
3.	Minister to declare prescribed commodities

PART III
Establishment of the Vanuatu Commodities Marketing Board

4.	Establishment of Board
5.	Composition of the Board

PART IV
Functions and Powers of the Board

6.	Functions of the Board
7.	Powers of the Board

PART V
Meetings of the Board

8.	Meetings of the Board

PART VI
Administration of the Board

9.	General manager, officers and employees of the Board
10.	Delegation of powers and functions of the Board
11.	Employees liability

PART VII
Financial Provisions

12.	Interpretation
13.	Funds of the Board
14.	Application of funds
15.	Separation of funds and accounts of the Board into commodity divisions
16.	Surplus funds to be invested
17.	Accounts of the Board
18.	Annual report
19.	Dissolution of the Board

PART VIII
Penalties, Orders

20.	Penalty
21.	False representation
22.	Directions by Minister
23.	Regulations

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VANUATU COMMODITIES MARKETING BOARD

To provide for the establishment of the Vanuatu Commodities Marketing Board, for the control and regulation of the marketing of prescribed commodities, and for matters connected therewith.

PART I
INTERPRETATION

INTERPRETATION

1.	In this Act unless the context otherwise requires -

"Board" means the Vanuatu Commodities Marketing Board established under section 4;

"Minister" means the Minister for the time being responsible for finance;

"prescribed commodity" means a commodity declared a prescribed commodity under section 3;

"purchase" includes exchange or barter whether of goods or services and any agreement or contract to purchase, exchange or barter.

PART II
CONTROL OF PRESCRIBED COMMODITIES

CONTROL ON EXPORT OF PRESCRIBED COMMODITIES

2.	From and after the commencement of this Act, no person other than the Board, its agents or persons authorised in writing by the Board shall export a prescribed commodity out of Vanuatu.

MINISTER TO DECLARE PRESCRIBED COMMODITIES

3.	The Minister after consultation with the chairman of the Board may, by Order published in the Gazette declare a commodity a prescribed commodity under this Act.

PART III

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VANUATU COMMODITIES
MARKETING BOARD

ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARD

4.	There is hereby established a Board to be known as the Vanuatu Commodities Marketing Board which shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD

5.	(1)	The Board shall consist of a chairman, a deputy chairman and nine other members appointed by the Minister and shall be composed as follows -

(a)	the Director of Agriculture or his nominee, ex officio, member;

(b)	the general manager of the Board or his nominee, ex officio, member;

(c)	a representative of the Minister responsible for finance, member;

(d)	six persons who are commodity producers, members;

(e)	two other persons, members.

(2)	The Minister shall appoint the chairman and deputy chairman from amongst the members.

(3)	The term of office of appointed members shall be 2 years and such members shall be eligible for re-appointment.

(4)	A member may resign his office by notice in writing given to the Minister.

(5)	The Minister may remove a member from office by notice published in the Gazette.

(6)	The Minister on appointing a member in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (e) of subsection (1), shall nominate an alternate to such member who shall act during such member's temporary absence from Vanuatu or incapacity through illness.

(7)	An alternate member when acting in the place of a member shall enjoy all the rights of and exercise all the powers, functions and duties of the member he represents.

(8)	All appointments and nominations made under this section shall be published in the Gazette.

PART IV
FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD

FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD

6.	(1)	The functions of the Board shall be as follows -

(a)	to secure the most favourable arrangements for the purchase, sale, grading and export of prescribed commodities;

(b)	to purchase prescribed commodities or products thereof and to sell or export the same;

(c)	to develop or to assist in the development of the various prescribed commodity industries in the Republic of Vanuatu, including the manufacture and processing of prescribed commodities and related products, for the benefit and prosperity of those industries;

(d)	to stabilise prices paid for prescribed commodities.

(2)	In carrying out its functions under this Act, the Board shall so conduct its affairs as to avoid the need to rely on Government grants or subsidies.

POWERS OF THE BOARD

7.	In carrying out its functions under this Act, the Board shall have the following powers -

(a)	to purchase prescribed commodities produced in the Republic of Vanuatu which may be offered and delivered to the Board, after such commodities have been graded as suitable for export;

(b)	to control and fix prices from time to time payable to producers for prescribed commodities and to notify such prices;

(c)	to purchase prescribed commodities directly or through an agent and to do all things necessary for, and in connection with, the purchase of such commodities;

(d)	to sell prescribed commodities and to do all things necessary for, and in connection with their marketing, cleaning, storing for export and shipping;

(e)	to appoint agents for the purchase, storage and export of prescribed commodities for such periods and on such terms and conditions as the Board may require;

(f)	to grant, withhold or cancel any written authority provided for by section 2 and to impose conditions upon the grant of such authority;

(g)	to purchase, hold, manage and dispose of real or personal property;

(h)	to establish pension schemes or any other welfare schemes for the benefit of its officers and employees;

(i)	subject to the prior approval of the Minister, to borrow or lend money on such terms and conditions as the Board thinks fit;

(j)	to do all that is necessary or required to be done in respect of its functions under this Act.

PART V
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD

8.	(1)	Meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and places as the chairman or in his absence the deputy chairman, may from time to time appoint.

(2)	The quorum at meetings of the Board shall be four members, including the chairman or in his absence, the deputy chairman.

(3)	The chairman, or in his absence the deputy chairman, shall preside at every meeting of the Board. Where neither the chairman nor the deputy chairman is present at a meeting of the Board, the Board shall elect one of its members to be chairman for that meeting and such member acting as chairman shall have and exercise all the powers of the chairman under this Act.

(4)	The proceedings at any meeting shall not be invalidated by any defect in the appointment of a member.

(5)	Decisions of the Board shall be made by a majority vote of members present and voting. The chairman or the deputy chairman, as the case may be, shall have a casting vote.

(6)	If a member has any pecuniary interests, direct or indirect in any contract or proposed contract or other matter relating to the Board, he shall as soon as practicable disclose to the chairman of the Board the fact and nature of his interest.

(7)	The Board may invite any person or persons to participate in meetings of the Board but they shall have no vote.

(8)	Subject to this Act, the Board may make internal rules regulating its procedures for the chairmanship, and the calling, conducting and adjournment of meetings of the Board.

(9)	Any rules made in accordance with subsection (8) shall be issued under the hand of the chairman or the secretary of the Board.

PART VI
ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOARD

GENERAL MANAGER, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE BOARD

9.	(1)	The Board shall appoint, at such remuneration and upon such terms and conditions as it thinks fit -

(a)	a general manager who shall be the chief executive of the Board and of all its operations;

(b)	a secretary to the Board; and

(c)	such other officers and employees as may be required for the proper and efficient discharge of the functions of the Board.

DELEGATION OF POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD

10.	The Board may, by resolution or otherwise, delegate to the general manager with or without restrictions or conditions, such of its powers and functions as it deems expedient for the efficient discharge of the day to day operations of the Board.

EMPLOYEES LIABILITY

11.	No personal liability shall attach to any member, officer or employee of the Board in respect of anything done or not done in good faith, and without negligence in the course of the operation of the Board.

PART VII
FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

INTERPRETATION

12.	In this part -

"commodity division" means the separation of accounts and funds in respect of each prescribed commodity;

"prescribed commodity" includes products thereof.

FUNDS OF THE BOARD

13.	The funds of the Board shall consist of the following -

(a)	monies derived from the sale of prescribed commodities by the Board and any interest accruing from the investment of such monies;

(b)	monies borrowed by the Board;

(c)	all sums received by or failing due to the Board in respect of the repayment of any loan made by the Board or the interest receivable in respect of any such loan;

(d)	grants from Government;

(e)	grants from other sources;

(f)	monies received by the Board in any other way in the course of the discharge of its functions.

APPLICATION OF FUNDS

14.	Subject to section 15, the Board may from time to time apply the funds at its disposal or any part thereof to -

(a)	the purchase of a prescribed commodity;

(b)	the proper and efficient discharge of its functions, responsibilities and operations under this Act;

(c)	the payment of salaries, allowances and expenses of its officers and employees and, subject to the approval of the Minister, allowances for its members;

(d)	stabilising prices paid for prescribed commodities.

SEPARATION OF FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS OF THE BOARD INTO COMMODITY DIVISIONS

15.	(1)	Accumulated funds of each individual prescribed commodity after revenues and expenditures for that prescribed commodity have been taken into account shall be for the use of that commodity division only.

(2)	Notwithstanding subsection (1) any expense of an administrative or general nature not directly attributable to any one commodity division shall be allocated to commodity divisions in such proportion as the Board may determine.

SURPLUS FUNDS TO BE INVESTED

16.	Any surplus funds generated by the Board in the course of carrying out its functions and powers may be invested in such manner as the Board may approve.

ACCOUNTS OF THE BOARD

17.	(1)	The Board shall keep proper accounts and other records in respect of its receipts and expenditure and shall cause to be prepared an annual statement of accounts in respect of each financial year.

(2)	The accounts of the Board shall be made up to 30 September in each financial year and shall be audited by an independent and properly qualified auditor approved by the Minister and appointed by the Board.

(3)	Fees payable to the auditor appointed under subsection (2) shall be paid out of the funds of the Board.

(4)	The Board shall provide the Minister and the Auditor General of Vanuatu each with a copy of the audited accounts and report thereon by the auditor referred to in subsection (2).

ANNUAL REPORT

18.	After 30 September in each year, the Board shall prepare a report of its operations during the preceding year and shall send a copy to the Minister and publish the same in such manner as the Minister may direct.

DISSOLUTION OF THE BOARD

19.	In the event of the dissolution of the Board, any funds remaining at the disposal of the Board after the discharge of all debts and liabilities shall be distributed for the benefit of prescribed commodity producers in accordance with the directions of the Board and in proportion to each commodity division's net worth at the time of dissolution.

PART VIII
PENALTIES ORDERS

PENALTY

20.	(1)	Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 2 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding VT200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

(2)	Where an offence against section 2 is committed by a corporation and whether or not the corporation has been prosecuted or convicted, every person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a director or officer of the corporation shall be guilty of the like offence and is liable on conviction to the punishment provided for the offence upon proof that the act constituting the offence took place with his knowledge or consent, or that he failed to exercise due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

FALSE REPRESENTATION

21.	Any person who falsely holds himself out or represents himself to be an agent or a person acting on the authority or instructions of the Board, shall commit an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding VT100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

DIRECTIONS BY MINISTER

22.	The Minister, after consultation with the Board may give to the Board such directions of a general character with respect to the performance of any functions of the Board as appear to the Minister to be requisite in the public interest.

REGULATIONS

23.	The Minister may by Order make regulations not inconsistent with this Act for the better carrying out of the objects and purposes of this Act.

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[Subsidiary]

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

VANUATU COMMODITIES MARKETING BOARD
(COPRA) REGULATIONS

Order 15 of 1986

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

REGULATIONS

1.	Copra intended for export
2.	Bagging of copra for export
3.	Moisture, dust and acidic contents of copra
4.	Grades and grading of copra
5.	Cargo manifests

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[Subsidiary]

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

VANUATU COMMODITIES MARKETING BOARD
(COPRA) REGULATIONS

To prescribe regulations for the marketing of copra.

COPRA INTENDED FOR EXPORT

1.	Copra intended for export from Vanuatu shall be contained in good serviceable bags or if presented in bulk in such form as approved by the Vanuatu Commodities Marketing Board, (hereinafter "the Board").

BAGGING OF COPRA FOR EXPORT

2.	(1)	Bags containing copra for export shall be securely sewn, in such a manner that there is no opening at the mouth through which copra can escape or be contaminated, with twine of clean natural fibre and shall contain not more than 70 kilograms net weight of copra.

(2)	A bag found to be in a damaged condition or otherwise considered unserviceable by an inspector may be condemned and the copra contained therein transferred to a sound bag and all cost relating thereto shall be recoverable from the owner as a debt due to the Board.

(3)	Bags of copra for export shall be permanently marked in such a way as to be legible and recognisable as belonging to the seller. Copra bags shall remain the property of the Board.

MOISTURE, DUST AND ACIDIC CONTENTS OF COPRA

3.	(1)	The Board shall not be bound to purchase copra where -

(a)	the moisture content of the copra is more than 7 per cent; or

(b)	the dust, dirt and other extraneous matter of or attached to the copra weighs more than 3 per cent by weight of the copra as determined by passage through a 3A inch mesh sieve; or

(c)	the free fatty acid content of extracted oil, expressed as lauric acid, is more than 4 percent.

(2)	It shall be the responsibility of the person offering copra to the Board to recondition or otherwise dispose of such copra rejected by the Board and all costs related thereto shall be to that person's account.

GRADES AND GRADING OF COPRA

4.	(1)	For the purposes of grading copra for purchase by the Board and or for the export of such copra, if such copra conforms to the standards of regulation 3(1), a Board inspector shall award grades for the qualities and features of the copra as follows -

(a)	Vanuatu hot air or sundried copra:

The copra is either white, grey or light brown, is free from an odour of smoke and is free from mould.

(b)	Vanuatu smoked copra:

The copra is dark brown or smoked copra but not black in colour.

(2)	It shall be the responsibility of the person presenting copra for grading to segregate copra of different qualities to allow for ease of grading.

(3)	The grading of copra shall be determined by a Board inspector upon the examination by him of at least 5 per cent at random of the consignment; however a producer may, upon payment of a fee of VT2,000, require a sample of any copra graded in any grade, as defined in these regulations, to be submitted to the general manager of the Board or the Director of Agriculture for further examination and re-grading. If as a result of such re-grading the consignment or any part of it is graded at a higher grade than that determined by the inspector, the fee paid by the producer shall be refunded to him.

CARGO MANIFESTS

6.	All bagged copra received from ships in addition to having bag marks as required by regulation 2(3) shall be accompanied by a cargo manifest of a form approved by the Board.

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