LAWS OF THE GILBERT ISLANDS 
REVISED EDITION 1977

CHAPTER 15

COPRA (MARKETING) ORDINANCE

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
1. Short title
2. Interpretation
3. Minister’s power to specify certain coconut products for purposes of Ordinance
4. Minister of designated co-operative society for purposes of Ordinance
5. Designated society to purchase copra of fair merchantable grade and specified coconut products
6. Prohibition of export of specified coconut products
7. Regulations
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An Ordinance to regulate and control the marketing of copra and other specified coconut products
12 of 1975
L.N 45/75

Commencement: 3rd September 1975

Short title

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Copra (Marketing) Ordinance.

Interpretation

2. In this Ordinance -

"copra of fair merchantable grade" means copra of a standard prescribed by regulations made under section 7;

"the designated society" means the society designated under section 4;

"specified coconut products" means such products of the coconut as may be specified under section 3.

Minister's power to specify certain coconut products for purposes of Ordinance

3. The Minister may by notice specify particular products of the coconut for the purposes of this Ordinance.

Minister to designate co-operative society for purposes of Ordinance Cap. 14

4. The Minister shall by notice designate a society registered under the Co-operative Societies Ordinance for the purpose of this Ordinance.

Designated society to purchase copra of fair merchantable grade and specified coconut products

5. (1) The designated society shall purchase all copra of fair merchantable grade and all specified coconut products (other than copra if it has been specified under section 3) produced in the Gilbert Islands and offered and delivered to the society.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply in respect of copra of fair merchantable grade or any specified coconut product designated by notice by the Minister produced in such parts of the islands as the Minister may by notice designate for the purpose of this section.

(3) The Minister may be notice suspend the operation of subsection (1) in respect of copra of fair merchantable grade or any specified coconut product designated designed by him by notice for such period as he shall specify.

Prohibition of export of specified coconut products

6. (1) No person other than the designated society shall export any specified coconut product except -

(a) an agent of the designated society acting on its behalf; or

(b) any other person authorised in writing by the designated society with the approval of the Minister to do so.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person authorised in writing by the Minister to do so may export any specified coconut product designated by notice by the Minister produced in such parts of the Gilbert Islands as the Minister may by notice designate for the purposes of this section.

Regulations

7. The Minister may make regulations -

(a) prescribing the standard of copra of fair merchantable grade;

(b) generally for the better carrying into effect of the-provisions, objects and intentions of this Ordinance

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[Subsidiary]
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

Specification of particular products of the coconut under section 3

Copra is specified as a specified coconut product.
G.N. 136/65

Designation of a co-operative society under section 4

The society presently registered under the name of "Copra Co-operative Society Limited" is designated for the purposes of the Ordinance.
LN 45/75

Designation under section 5 (2) of parts of the Gilbert Islands for the of section 5

The Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands are designated for the said purposes.
LN 57/75

Designated of specified coconut products under section 6(2) for the purposes of section 6

Copra is designated for the said purposes.
LN. 57/75

Designation under section 6(2) of parts of the Gilbert Islands for the purposes of section 6.

The Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands are designated for the said purposes.
L.N. 57175

Regulations under section 7

COPRA (MARKETING) REGULATIONS
LN 39/73

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Copra (Marketing) Regulations.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations -

"copra" means the kernel or meat of the coconut when it has been extracted from the nut and dried;

"extraneous matter" means any matter which is not copra and includes coconut shell;

"inspector" means a person appointed by the Secretary for the purpose of examining copra to determine whether it is of fair merchantable grade;

"the prescribed sieve" means a sieve of wire mesh with square holes the distance between the mid points of the opposing sides of each square being ½ inch, plus or minus 10 percent of that measurement, measured from the inner surface of the wire.

Copra of fair merchantable grade

3. Copra of fair merchantable grade shall -

(a) contain less than 6½ percent by weight of moisture; and

(b) be no darker in, colour than light brown; and

(c) contain no mould; and

(d) show no sign of damage by insects; and

(e) contain no more than 1 percent by weight of extraneous matter; and

(f) not be capable of passing through the prescribed sieve.

Grading of copra

4. (1) whether a parcel of copra offered for sale to the designated society consists of copra of fair merchantable grade shall in every case be determined in the first instance by an inspector from an examination of a sample from the parcel.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) a sample shall be not less than 5 bags or 5 percent of the total parcel, whichever is greater.

(3) Every examination under paragraph (1) shall be carried out in the presence of the person offering the parcel of copra for sale or in the presence of a person designated by that person.

Appeal from an inspector’s determination

5. (1) Any person referred to-in regulation 4 (3) who is dissatisfied with an inspector's determination under regulation 4 (1) may appeal against that determination by forthwith informing the inspector of his wish to do so and on payment to the secretary of the prescribed fee.

(2) Every appeal under these regulations shall, at the request of the person aggrieved, either by way of a re-examination of the sample or by way of an examination of the whole parcel of copra from which the sample was taken.

(3) The fees payable in respect of appeals under this regulation shall be as specified in this schedule.

Procedure on appeal 

6. (1) Where an appeal under these Regulations is by way of a re-examination of the sample the inspector shall as soon as practicable transmit the sample to Betio, or to such other place as the secretary may designate, where it shall be examined by an officer of the agricultural Division of or above the grade of agricultural Officer whose decision shall be final.

(2) Where an appeal under these Regulations is by way of an examination of the whole parcel the parcel shall as soon as practicable be examined by the inspector in question or by another inspector whose decision shall be final.

Return of appeal fees.

7. (1) where on appeal under these regulations by way of an examination of the sample it is decided  the parcel of copra from which the sample was taken is of fair merchantable grade contrary to the determination under regulation 4 the appeal fee shall be returned.

(2) Where on appeal under these Regulations by way of a re-examination of the whole parcel of copra it is decided that any part of the parcel is of fair merchantable grade contrary to the determination under regulation 4 so much of the appeal fee shall be returned as the secretary considers just and reasonable in the particular circumstances.
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SCHEDULE
(Regulation 5 (3))

Appeal fees

1. For an appeal by way of re-examination of a sample..............   $20
2. For an appeal by way of examination of a whole parcel........... $20

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