Notices

1.0 Purpose
2.0 Under-Utilization of Export Level
3.0 Notice of Return
4.0 Further information

1.1 The purpose of this Notice is to:

1.2 This Notice replaces paragraph 11.7 of Notice to Exporters no. 94 dated October 31, 1996 and Notice to Exporters no. 121 dated November 24, 1999.

2.1 As previously notified, a softwood lumber exporter who foresees under-utilizing its export level allocation in a given year covered by the Agreement, may elect to return any portion of the exporter's established base (EB) and lower fee base (LFB) and re-priced lower fee base (RFB) allocation, up to a specified maximum of the exporter's initial allocation by notifying the Export and Import Controls Bureau (EICB), in writing, by December 31 in the affected year allocation.

2.2 In Year 5 of the Softwood Lumber Agreement (April 1, 2000 - March 31, 2001), allocation holders from all provinces may return up to a maximum of 10% of their initial EB allocation. This level remains the same as it was for year 4 of the Softwood Lumber Agreement.

2.3 An allocation holder for lumber first manufactured in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec may, in addition, return up to a maximum of 25% of its initial LFB allocation.

2.4 Companies with an LFB and/or RFB allocation for lumber first manufactured in B.C. may return up to a total of 25% of its B.C. origin LFB and/or RFB allocation in addition to EB in paragraph 2.2 above. To clarify, when an exporter gives notice of return of a portion of its B.C. origin export level allocation, it may choose to return it using either LFB, RFB or a combination of the two up to a maximum of 25%, in addition to a portion of their EB.

3.1 When an exporter gives notice of return of a portion of its export level allocation, the exporter must provide the following information no later than December 31:

• the exporter EICB number;
• the amounts being returned, by category (EB, LFB, RFB); and
• if the exporter is a remanufacturer with export level allocations from more than one province, the exporter must identify the account(s) for which the exporter wishes to return a portion or portions of export level.

3.2 While exporters have until December 31, 2000 to give notice of a return, exporters are encouraged to advise the EICB earlier, if possible.

For further information please contact Gordon Chestnut, Softwood Lumber Division (EPS), Export and Import Controls Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade by telephone at (613) 996-0642 or in writing at: