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BC announces changes to the MFPR in bid to boost domestic production

The government of B.C. announced changes to the Manufactured Forest Products Regulation (MFPR) around export requirements for sawn-wood products and lumber from western red cedar or cyprus, effective Sept. 30, 2020.

Under the current MFPR, logs that are squared off up to a maximum dimension of 0.2 square meters (17 x 17 inches) are classified as sawn-wood product and can be exported without further manufacture.

The amended MFPR stipulates that the maximum dimension of lumber that will be classified as a sawn-wood product will be 0.1 square meters (12 x 12 inches). Further domestic processing of lumber will therefore be required before it can be exported. Lumber made from western red cedar or cypress on the B.C. Coast must be fully manufactured under the updated MFPR.

If products don’t meet these requirements, companies will have to get a provincial export permit or pay a fee in lieu of manufacture to be eligible for export.

According to a government press release, these changes will increase the amount of processing of wood products done in the province, instead of after export. However, some forest products companies, such as Western Forest Products, have expressed disappointment regarding the amended regulation.

The changes to the regulation were supposed to come into effect on July 1 but were postponed due to COVID-19.