Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order

This rule establishes a Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (Order). Softwood lumber is used in products like flooring, siding and framing. The program will be financed by an assessment on softwood lumber domestic manufacturers and importers and will be administered by a board of industry members selected by the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary). The initial assessment rate will be $0.35 per thousand board feet of softwood lumber shipped within or imported to the United States. The purpose of the program is to strengthen the position of softwood lumber in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for softwood lumber, and develop new uses for softwood lumber within the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducted a referendum among eligible domestic softwood lumber manufacturers and importers from May 23 through June 10, 2011. Sixty-seven percent of those voting in the referendum representing 80 percent of the volume of softwood lumber represented in the referendum favored implementation of the program.