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Rubber Regulation 1954

Rubber Act 1953
This reprint of this Statutory Instrument incorporates all amendments, if any, made before25 November 2006 and in force at  1 July 2001.

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Legislative Counsel
Dated 25 November 2006

INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

Chapter 222.

Rubber Regulation 1954

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS.

Rubber Regulation 1954

MADE under the Rubber Act 1953.

Dated                   200 .

1. INTERPRETATION.

In this Regulation, unless the contrary intention appears–

“bark” includes all foreign matter of organic origin;

“bleached rubber” means rubber that has become wet and has absorbed excess moisture;

“blemish” means a defect, stain or disfigurement other than a slight milling disfigurement on ribbed smoked sheets;

“blister” means a sac, pit, pocket or depression on or in a sheet of rubber;

“foreign matter” means matter other than rubber hydrocarbon or the natural serum substance occurring in rubber latex;

“firm” means strong and solid;

“frothy sheet” means a sheet containing excess bubbles or blisters to the extent that the entire sheet shows nothing but this condition;

“heated rubber” means rubber containing soft sticky spots or streaks, regardless of cause;

“over-smoked rubber” means rubber that has been smoked so heavily as to be almost opaque, but does not include rubber that has been slightly charred as a result of too close contact to smoke-fires;

“oxidized rubber” means rubber hydrocarbon or any of its serum constituents, or a foreign substance within the rubber, that has combined with oxygen to deteriorate or degrade the rubber;

“skim latex” means the residual liquid that is the by-product of the concentration of normal liquid latex;

“sound” means free from any defect or weakness;

“sticky” includes tacky, viscous or gluey;

“strong” means resisting strain or tension;

“under-cured” means not thoroughly dried during the smoking or drying process;

“virgin rubber” means rubber that retains enough of the original moisture to present a whitish appearance;

“weak” means tearing easily or breaking on the application of sudden tension.

2. RUBBER GRADES.

Rubber intended for export shall be classified into one of the following grades–

(a) R.M.A. 1X R.S.S.; or

(b) R.M.A. 1 R.S.S.; or

(c) R.M.A. 2 R.S.S.; or

(d) R.M.A. 3 R.S.S.; or

(e) R.M.A. 4 R.S.S.; or

(f) R.M.A. 5 R.S.S.; or

(g) Clippings; or

(h) R.M.A. 1X Thick Pale Crepe; or

(i) R.M.A. 1 Thick Pale Crepe; or

(j) R.M.A. 2 Thick Pale Crepe; or

(k) R.M.A. 3 Thick Pale Crepe; or

(l) R.M.A. 1X Thin Pale Crepe; or

(m) R.M.A. 1 Thin Pale Crepe; or

(n) R.M.A. 2 Thin Pale Crepe; or

(o) R.M.A. 3 Thin Pale Crepe; or

(p) R.M.A. 1X Estate Brown Thick Crepe; or

(q) R.M.A. 2X Estate Brown Thick Crepe; or

(r) R.M.A. 3X Estate Brown Thick Crepe; or

(s) R.M.A. 1X Estate Brown Thin Crepe; or

(t) R.M.A. 2X Estate Brown Thin Crepe; or

(u) R.M.A. 3X Estate Brown Thin Crepe; or

(v) R.M.A. 2 Thick Blanket Crepe (Amber); or

(w) R.M.A. 3 Thick Blanket Crepe (Amber); or

(x) R.M.A. 4 Thick Blanket Crepe (Amber); or

(y) R.M.A. 1 Thin Brown Crepe; or

(z) R.M.A. 2 Thin Brown Crepe; or

(za) R.M.A. 3 Thin Brown Crepe; or

(zb) R.M.A. 4 Thin Brown Crepe; or

(zc) R.M.A. Standard Flat Bark Crepe; or

(zd) R.M.A. Hard Flat Bark Crepe; or

(ze) R.M.A. Pure Smoked Blanket Crepe; or

(zf) other grades approved by the Board; or

(zg) Scrap; or

(zh) unclassified rubber.

3. R.S.S. GRADES.

(1) R.M.A. 1X R.S.S. shall be–

(a) superior quality ribbed smoked sheets of even thickness; and

(b) produced under conditions where all processes are carefully and uniformly controlled; and

(c) free from mould, other than very slight traces of dry mould on wrappers or bale surfaces adjacent to wrappers only, not present on packing; and

(d) dry, clean, strong, sound and evenly smoked, and free from blemishes, specks, rust, blisters and foreign matter other than small, scattered pin-head bubbles.

(2) R.M.A. 1 R.S.S. shall be–

(a) standard quality ribbed smoked sheets of even thickness; and

(b) free from mould, other than very slight traces of dry mould on wrappers or bale surfaces adjacent to wrappers only, not present on packing; and

(c) dry, clean, strong, sound and free from blemishes, rust, blisters and foreign matter other than very slight traces of fine, non-gritty carbon dust and small, scattered pin-head bubbles.

(3) R.M.A. 2 R.S.S. shall–

(a) be good fair average quality ribbed smoked sheets of even thickness; and

(b) have not more than slight rust and slight amounts of dry mould on wrappers, bale surfaces and interior sheets if those conditions, either singly or in combination, do not exist to an objectionable extent on or in more than 5% of the bales included in a lot or consignment; and

(c) have not more than slight and scattered small bubbles and specks of bark; and

(d) subject to Paragraphs (b) and (c), be dry, clean, strong, sound and free from blemishes, blisters and foreign matter other than very slight traces of fine, non-gritty carbon dust.

(4) R.M.A. 3 R.S.S.–

(a) shall be fair average quality ribbed smoked sheets of even thickness; and

(b) may have rust and dry mould on wrappers, bale surfaces and interior sheets if those conditions, either singly or in combination, do not exist to an objectionable extent on or in more than 10% of the bales included in a lot or consignment; and

(c) shall have not more than slight blemishes in colour, small bubbles or specks of bark; and

(d) subject to Paragraphs (b) and (c), shall be dry, strong and free from blemishes, blisters and foreign matter other than very slight traces of fine, non-gritty carbon dust.

(5) R.M.A. 4 R.S.S.–

(a) shall be low fair average quality ribbed smoked sheets of even thickness; and

(b) may have rust and dry mould on wrappers, bale surfaces and interior sheets if those conditions, either singly or in combination, do not exist to an objectionable extent on or in more than 20% of the bales included in a lot or consignment; and

(c) may have translucent stains, medium-size bark particles, bubbles and slightly sticky or over-smoked rubber; and

(d) shall not contain weak rubber, under-cured rubber or spots or streaks of heated or oxidized rubber; and

(e) subject to Paragraphs (b), (c) and (d), shall be dry, firm and free from blemishes, sticky blisters and foreign matter other than very slight traces of fine, non-gritty carbon dust.

(6) R.M.A. 5 R.S.S.–

(a) shall be inferior fair average quality ribbed smoked sheets of even thickness; and

(b) may have dry mould on wrappers, bale surfaces and interior sheets if those conditions, either singly or in combination, do not exist to an objectionable extent on or in more than 30% of the bales included in a lot or consignment; and

(c) may have rust, stains, large bark particles, bubbles and over-smoked, slightly sticky or slightly under-cured rubber; and

(d) shall not contain weak, heated or oxidized rubber; and

(e) subject to Paragraphs (b), (c) and (d), shall be free of blemishes, sticky blisters and foreign matter other than very slight traces of fine, non-gritty carbon dust.

(7) Ribbed smoked sheet rubber shall not include block or frothy sheets, scrap, air-dried sheets or smooth sheets.

4. CLIPPINGS.

Clippings shall consist exclusively of cut-out pieces of rubber belonging to grades described in Section 3.

5. THICK PALE CREPES.

(1) R.M.A.1X Thick Pale Crepe shall–

(a) be superior quality thick pale crepe; and

(b) consist of dry, firm rubber of very light uniform colour; and

(c) not contain discolouration from any cause, dust, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(2) R.M.A. 1 Thick Pale Crepe shall–

(a) be standard quality thick pale crepe; and

(b) consist of dry, firm rubber of light colour, with not more than very slight variation in shade; and

(c) not contain discolouration from any cause, dust, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(3) R.M.A. 2 Thick Pale Crepe–

(a) shall be good fair average quality thick pale crepe; and

(b) shall consist of dry, firm rubber, not more than slightly darker than R.M.A. 1 Thick Pale Crepe and with not more than slight variation in shade; and

(c) may contain slightly mottled rubber if that condition does not exist in more than 10% of the bales included in a lot or consignment; and

(d) subject to Paragraphs (b) and (c), shall not contain discolouration from any cause, dust, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(4) R.M.A. 3 Thick Pale Crepe–

(a) shall be fair average quality thick off-colour palish crepe; and

(b) shall consist of dry, firm rubber of yellowish colour, and may vary in shade; and

(c) may contain mottled and streaked rubber and fungus spots if that condition does not exist in more than 20% of the bales included in a lot or consignment; and

(d) subject to Paragraphs (b) and (c), shall not contain discolouration from any cause, dust, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

6. THIN PALE CREPES.

(1) R.M.A. 1X Thin Pale Crepe shall–

(a) be superior quality thin pale crepe; and

(b) consist of dry, firm rubber of very light uniform colour; and

(c) not contain discolouration from any cause, dust, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(2) R.M.A. 1 Thin Pale Crepe shall–

(a) be standard quality thin pale crepe; and

(b) consist of dry, firm rubber of light colour, with not more than very slight variation in shade; and

(c) not contain discolouration from any cause, dust, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(3) R.M.A. 2 Thin Pale Crepe–

(a) shall be good fair average quality thin palish crepe; and

(b) shall consist of dry, firm rubber, not more than slightly darker than R.M.A. 1 Thin Pale Crepe and with not more than slight variation in shade; and

(c) may contain slightly mottled rubber if that condition does not exist in more than 10% of the bales included in a lot or consignment; and

(d) subject to Paragraphs (b) and (c), shall not contain discolouration from any cause, dust, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(4) R.M.A. 3 Thin Pale Crepe–

(a) shall be fair average quality thin off-colour palish crepe; and

(b) shall consist of dry, firm rubber of yellowish colour, and may vary in shade; and

(c) may contain slightly mottled and streaked rubber if that condition does not exist in more than 20% of the bales included in a lot or consignment; and

(d) subject to Paragraphs (b) and (c), shall not contain discolouration from any cause, dust, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

7. PRODUCTION OF PALE CREPES.

Crepes referred to in Sections 5 and 6 shall be the product of the fresh coagula of natural liquid latex under conditions where all processes are carefully and uniformly controlled.

8. ESTATE BROWN CREPES.

(1) R.M.A. 1X Estate Brown Thick Crepe shall–

(a) be clean, thick, light-brown crepe; and

(b) not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(2) R.M.A. 2X Estate Brown Thick Crepe shall–

(a) be clean, thick, brown crepe; and

(b) not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(3) R.M.A. 3X Estate Brown Thick Crepe–

(a) shall be brown to dark-brown thick crepe; and

(b) shall not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber but may contain specks of bark.

(4) R.M.A. 1X Estate Brown Thin Crepe shall–

(a) be clean, thin, light-brown crepe; and

(b) not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(5) R.M.A. 2X Estate Brown Thin Crepe shall–

(a) be clean, thin, brown crepe; and

(b) not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(6) R.M.A. 3X Estate Brown Thin Crepe–

(a) shall be brown to dark-brown thin crepe; and

(b) shall not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber but may contain specks of bark.

(7) Crepes referred to in this section shall–

(a) consist of rejections of pale latex crepe, lump and other high-grade rubbers; and

(b) not contain tree bark scrap rubber, unless it is pre-cleaned to separate the rubber from the bark; and

(c) be milled in power wash mills; and

(d) not contain earth scrap, smoked scrap or wet slab.

9. THICK BLANKET CREPES (AMBERS).

(1) R.M.A. 2 Thick Blanket Crepe (Amber) shall–

(a) be clean, thick, blanket crepe (amber); and

(b) consist of dry, clean rubber, light brown in colour; and

(c) not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(2) R.M.A. 3 Thick Blanket Crepe (Amber) shall–

(a) be clean, thick, blanket crepe (amber); and

(b) consist of dry, clean rubber, brown in colour; and

(c) not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(3) R.M.A. 4 Thick Blanket Crepe (Amber) shall–

(a) be clean, thick, blanket crepe (amber); and

(b) consist of dry rubber, brown to dark-brown in colour; and

(c) not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(4) Crepes referred to in this section shall–

(a) be manufactured on power wash mills from wet slab, unsmoked sheets, lump and other high-grade scrap; and

(b) not contain tree bark scrap rubber, unless it is pre-cleaned to separate the rubber from the bark; and

(c) not contain earth scrap.

10. THIN BROWN CREPES.

(1) R.M.A. 1 Thin Brown Crepe shall–

(a) be clean, thin, superior, light-brown crepe; and

(b) consist of dry, clean rubber; and

(c) not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(2) R.M.A. 2 Thin Brown Crepe shall–

(a) be clean, thin, light-brown crepe; and

(b) not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(3) R.M.A. 3 Thin Brown Crepe shall–

(a) be clean, thin, brown crepe; and

(b) not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stains or oxidized or heated rubber.

(4) R.M.A. 4 Thin Brown Crepe–

(a) shall be thin, brown to dark-brown, specky crepe; and

(b) shall not contain discolouration from any cause, specks or other foreign matter, oil or other stain or oxidized or heated rubber; and

(c) may contain specks of bark.

(5) Crepes referred to in this section shall–

(a) be manufactured on power wash mills from wet slab, unsmoked sheet, lump and other high-grade scrap; and

(b) not contain tree bark scrap rubber, unless it is pre-cleaned to separate the rubber from the bark; and

(c) not contain earth scrap or smoked scrap.

11. FLAT BARK CREPE.

(1) R.M.A. Standard Flat Bark Crepe shall–

(a) be medium hard to soft in texture; and

(b) not contain uncured rubber, heated or discoloured rubber, sludge, cotton, sand or other foreign matter except fine bark particles.

(2) R.M.A. Hard Flat Bark Crepe shall–

(a) be thick, firm and comparatively tough crepe; and

(b) not contain heated or discoloured rubber, sludge, cotton or sand, except fine bark particles.

(3) Crepes referred to in this section shall be manufactured on power wash mills.

12. PURE SMOKED BLANKET CREPE.

R.M.A. Pure Smoked Blanket Crepe–

(a) shall be made by milling on power wash mills rubber derived exclusively from ribbed smoked sheets (including block sheets) or clippings; and

(b) shall be clean, firm and tough; and

(c) may vary in colour from brown to very dark brown; and

(d) shall not contain sludge, uncured rubber, oil spots, heated rubber or other foreign matter.

13. OTHER APPROVED GRADES.

Rubber classified into a grade approved by the Board under Section 2(zf) shall conform with the standard laid down by the Board for that grade.

14. SCRAP.

Scrap rubber–

(a) includes tree and ground scrap and any other grade of rubber not otherwise classified; and

(b) shall be reasonably free from any admixture of foreign matter.

15. UNCLASSIFIED RUBBER.

Unclassified rubber includes all rubber not classified into a specific grade.

16. SAMPLE SHEETS.

(1) The Departmental Head shall keep in sound condition a standard sample of each grade of rubber except Clippings, R.M.A. Standard Flat Bark Crepe, R.M.A. Hard Flat Bark Crepe, Scrap and unclassified rubber.

(2) A standard sample kept under Subsection (1) shall be deemed to be a standard sample of the grade that the Departmental Head certifies in writing that it represents.

(3) The Departmental Head may provide sample sheets of each of the grades of rubber, except Clippings, R.M.A. Standard Flat Bark Crepe, R.M.A. Hard Flat Bark Crepe, Scrap and unclassified rubber, certified by him in writing to conform with the standard samples kept under Subsection (1), which shall, subject to Subsection (4), be deemed prima facie to conform with those standard samples.

(4) The Departmental Head may, when necessary or convenient, whether from deterioration or possible deterioration of the rubber or for other cause, call in sample sheets provided under Subsection (3) to be checked for their conformity with the standard samples, and Subsection (3) does not apply to sheets so called in until the Departmental Head again certifies that they conform with the standard samples.

17. DISTINGUISHING LETTERS AND SYMBOLS.

(1) The Departmental Head shall allot to each person producing rubber for export one or more distinguishing letters.

(2) A person must not export or attempt to export rubber that is not marked in accordance with this Regulation.

(3) Distinguishing letters must be stencilled or marked on one or more sides of a bale of rubber by the owner of the rubber.

(4) In addition to the distinguishing letters referred to in Subsection (3), the owner must stencil or mark on the top of a bale the name of the plantation on which the rubber was produced, and the grade into which he grades the rubber.

(5) The appropriate symbol set out in the Schedule shall be used to denote the grade of the rubber.

(6) The grade of the rubber must be marked in letters not less than 50 mm in height, and the name of the plantation on which it was produced in letters not less than 25 mm in height.

(7) A person other than an Inspector who places on a bale of rubber intended for export a mark other than a mark prescribed by this section is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

(8) Distinguishing letters and other marks prescribed by this section shall be stencilled in black on a white background, or in any other manner approved by the Departmental Head.

(9) Where rubber is reclassified by an Inspector under the Act, any further mark required to denote the grade to which the rubber has been so reclassified shall be added to the bale by the Inspector, and the previous marks shall be cancelled by him.

18. RECLASSIFICATION.

(1) Rubber that is submitted for inspection and marked by the owner as being of a particular grade and that, in the opinion of an Inspector, is not of the standard prescribed by this Regulation in relation to that grade shall be reclassified by the Inspector to a grade with the standard with which it complies.

(2) An Inspector may reclassify rubber on such evidence and for such reason as he, in his discretion, thinks proper, and shall, if so required by the owner of the rubber or his agent at the time when he so reclassifies it or at the time when the reclassification comes to the attention of the owner or agent, supply to him written details of the evidence on which and the reason for which it was so reclassified.

(3) This section does not limit the powers of the Board.

19. INTERFERENCE WITH MARKS.

A person, other than an Inspector, who alters, defaces or adds to the distinguishing letters or other marks on a bale of rubber that has been inspected by an Inspector is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

20. MATERIALS FOR RE-MARKING AND INSPECTION.

Materials for the re-marking and inspection of bales and rubber shall be supplied by the State.

SCHEDULE 1 – Reg., Sec. 17(5).
GRADING SYMBOLS.

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