New Load Slip System in effect August 1

Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods Rick Woodford today said the new Load Slip System for the forest industry announced last fall will come into effect August 1. Mr. Woodford said the Load Slip System will strengthen the current process for tracking commercially harvested wood around the province and help reduce the problem of unreported harvesting and processing of timber.

"This new initiative is another example of government being pro-active in its prudent and sustainable forest management," said Mr. Woodford. "The Load Slip System will provide us with more complete information concerning the use of our valuable forest resources and greatly benefit our overall management efforts. We are pleased that the system is now ready to be implemented after months of hard work by my staff to put this new initiative in place."

As of August 1, each load of commercial timber transported within the province must be accompanied by a load slip. The load slip will include details on the authority under which the wood was harvested, its origin and destination. The Load Slip System will not apply to timber intended for domestic consumption.

Mr. Woodford said forestry officials will closely monitor the system to ensure compliance of the new regulations and added that anyone failing to comply will be subject to strict penalties pursuant to the Forestry Act, starting at $500 for the first offence.

The minister noted that similar regulated Load Slip Systems are being used in several other jurisdictions across the country, such as Ontario and New Brunswick, and have proven to be very effective in reducing the volume of illegal wood being cut.

Media contact: Sonia B. Glover, Communications, (709) 729-6183.

2002 07 25                               11:15 a.m.