News release

Changes to Forestry Regulations Proposed

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

Changes are being proposed to two sets of forestry regulations that oversee the commercial buying and selling of wood. Natural Resources Minister Tim Olive announced today, March 6, that the department is seeking public comment on the proposed changes.

The changes affect the Registration and Statistical Returns Regulations and the Forest Sustainability Regulations.

"Both sets of regulations are less than five years old. We are proposing changes that make the regulations easier to follow based on feedback from those who use them," said the minister. "It is important that we review regulations on a regular basis to ensure that they are accomplishing what they set out to do and to address any changes in the forest industry."

The Registration and Statistical Returns Regulations came into effect in January 1998. They established the registry of buyers of primary forest products, and require annual registration and submission of statistical returns. The proposed changes include simplifying some of the reporting requirements; a new requirement for registered buyers to identify the percentage of wood acquired by species. They also clarify who is an exporter of wood and include a definition of wood chips, along with a form for reporting the volumes of wood chips transferred between registered buyers.

"These regulations have not been revised since they came into effect and we felt they should be reviewed to ensure they are still meeting their objectives," said Nancy McInnis-Leek, registrar with the department. "The changes are mostly administrative and apply only to registered buyers."

The Forest Sustainability Regulations were enacted in the spring of 2000 and were revised in December 2001. These regulations ensure that the level of forest harvesting is sustainable in the future by requiring silviculture to be carried out in proportion to the amount of wood harvested.

The proposed changes for these regulations complement those suggested for the Registration and Statistical Returns Regulations. The definition of wood chips has been added, and responsibility for the wood used to produce wood chips can be transferred from the producer to the consumer when the chips are used in the manufacture of another product.

The proposed changes can be found on the department's Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/forestry/strategy or at any Department of Natural Resources office, and through public libraries and Access Nova Scotia.

Comments are being accepted until Friday, May 16, at 4 p.m. They can be dropped off at any Natural Resources office or sent to the registrar with the Registry of Buyers by any of the following methods:

  • e-mail: regbuyer@gov.ns.ca
  • fax: 902-893-6102
  • mail: Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 68, Truro, N.S., B2N 5B8

Changes to the regulations will come into effect in 2004.