…timber companies without concessions cannot export logs anymoreAll log tags issued to forest concessionaires by the Guyana Forestry Commission during the year will expire on December 31.As such all Timber Sales Agreement and Wood-Cutting Lease Concession holders are required to return all unused log-tracking tags.In a notice the GFC stated that it is a breach of procedures to use these expired tags in 2009. As such all TSA and WCL concession holders are now required to report all produce,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, and the tags used on those produce that have been harvested in 2008 but which have not yet been removed from the forest or declared to the GFC.Produced harvested in 2008 will only be accepted if they are tagged with numbers declared.Beginning 2009,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, timber companies which do not have forestry concessions in Guyana will not be allowed to export logs.This decision is in keeping with an announcement by President Bharrat Jagdeo to deter the exportation of the forest produce and to allow for more value-added activities in the country.The policy on the concession issue is clear,China Jerseys NFL, and if exporters do not have a concession they will not be granted permission to sell logs overseas.This decision was made earlier this year with notices going out to companies since,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, according to Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud,NFL Jerseys China, some persons think that the GFC is not serious with such a decision.In July, the Minister stated that some stakeholders think that ‘we are not serious’ and from past experiences act surprised when the implementation period arrives for changes in the sector.At least three companies are currently exporting logs without operating forestry concessions in Guyana.The log-export policy is a mechanism to encourage much more value-added production in the country.The export commission on the most popular species of logs has increased from two percent to seven percent.The commission will increase to a further 10 percent in 2010 and 12 percent in 2011.Over the next three years the GFC will be able to assess the impact of this policy and determine exporters’ processing capability.This assessment would guide the next option as to whether they will leave the export commission at 12 percent or increase it, or move in the direction of greater restriction.President Jagdeo announced during the last week in July that the export commission on popular species of logs is to be increased from January 2009.This announcement was made by the President following a meeting with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Forest Producers’ Association (FPA) at the Office of the President.