Ben Bogstie / Local Journalism Initiative
After holding off on changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the provincial government announced new export rules for B.C. lumber on Sept. 16.
The changes to the Manufactured Forest Products Regulation (MFPR) introduce stricter requirements on the maximum dimensions of lumber that is considered a sawn-wood product. Currently, logs squared off to a maximum dimension of 0.2 square metres may be exported without further manufacture. article continues below
TRENDING STORIES
- Coquitlam couple could face $500 fine for paint dump in Hoy Creek
- MAP: Tri-City schools flagged for COVID-19 exposure
- Fraser Health rushes to open Tri-Cities COVID-19 testing clinic after outcry
- Huge horror night maze comes to Port Coquitlam
RELATED
- B.C.’s road to recovery: Resource sector reboot is more about markets
- Comment: Lack of B.C. wood pulp is jeopardizing toilet paper supply
When the changes take effect on Sept. 30, the maximum dimension will shrink to 0.1 square metres. In the Coast area, any lumber made from western cedar or cypress will need to be fully manufactured in B.C. before it can be exported.
“These changes are intended to increase the amount of processing of wood products done within British Columbia, leading to more B.C. jobs, rather than having that processing done after export,” stated a provincial media release.about:blank
Lumber products that do not meet the requirements will need a provincial export permit, obtained by paying a fee. The changes were originally set to come into effect on July 1, but the province postponed them to allow “the forest industry to recover from the challenges associated with the pandemic and to better prepare for the resulting market impacts.”
Ben Bogstie is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with the Interior News.