(EMDG Amendment Act 2010)
Legislation has been passed that will result in a number of changes to the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme for expenses incurred from 1 July 2010 and applications lodged from 1 July 2011.
The changes aim to both extend the life of the EMDG scheme and better balance the cost of the scheme to its budget. The changes also aim to ensure that those exporters most deserving of grants receive the greatest level of support possible within the budget available for the scheme. The changes are as follows:
- extending the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme so that it applies to all grant years from 2011-12 to 2015-16 inclusive;
- reducing the maximum grant from $200,000 to $150,000;
- reducing the maximum number of grants available for an individual recipient (other than an approved body or an approved joint venture) from eight to seven;
- capping intellectual property registration expenses at $50,000 per application;
- increasing the minimum expenses threshold from $10,000 to $20,000;
- increasing the income limit for members of approved joint ventures/consortia from $30 million to $50 million;
- removing approved trading houses as an eligible special approval applicant category;
- reinstating disqualifying conviction provisions in the Act that were unintentionally removed when Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000 rules replaced earlier disqualifying conviction provisions;
- In addition to these changes, the following changes were made to the EMDG Act:
- enabling Austrade to impose conditions on the accreditation of EMDG consultants;
- amending the ‘form and manner’ requirements and claim lodgement deadlines for applications submitted by accredited EMDG consultants;
North Korea excluded from EMDG Scheme
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recently adopted Resolution 1874 which strengthens sanctions again the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). In support of this resolution, the Australian Government has decided that Austrade will not provide EMDG support for any trade in connection with the DPRK. This does not mean that business cannot be conducted with the DPRK, provided they do not contravene Australian law or sanctions imposed by the UNSC. This sanction applied from 14 August 2009. Eligible expenditure prior to this date can, however, be claimed under the EMDG Scheme.
To find out more download a copy of the Amendment Bill and Explanatory Memorandum
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To find out how Treadstone can help you with your EMDG application for 09/10 year contact us on 03 9016 3575.
Treadstone is a member of the Australian Export Consultants Group and the Australian Institute of Export.
