XN000022-1974-06-30 — Page 8

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SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 1974.

PLASTIC EXPORT CONTROLS LIFTED

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CONTROLS RESTRICTING THE EXPORT AND RE-EXPORT OF A NUMBER OF RAW MATERIALS USED EXTENSIVELY IN THE LOCAL PLASTICS INDUSTRY WILL BE LIFTED FROM TOMORROW (MONDAY), BUT EXPORT LICENCES WILL STILL BE REQUIRED, THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.

THE CONTROLS WERE IMPOSED ON A QUOTA BASIS EARLIER THIS YEAR ON FIVE KEY MATERIALS AFTER THE CUT-BACK IN OIL PRODUCTION RAISED UNCERTAINTIES OVER ESSENTIAL PLASTIC SUPPLIES.

THE ITEMS SUBJECT TO CONTROL WERE HIGH AND LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE, POLYPROPYLENE, P.V.C. RESINS AND POLYMER AND COPOLYMER RESINS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT COMMENTED: +WE ARE.. LIFTING EXPORT QUOTA CONTROLS ON THESE ITEMS ON THE ADY ICE OF THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD.

+WITH EFFECT FROM JULY 1 NO QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IMPOSED, BUT IT WILL STILL BE NECESSARY FOR EXPORTERS TO OBTAIN THE APPROPRIATE EXPORT LICENCE, IN RESPECT OF EACH SHIPMENT, FROM THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.

+ALTHOUGH THE SUPPLY SITUATION IS NOW BACK TO NORMAL, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO RETAIN EXPORT LICENSING FOR ANY TYPE OF PLASTIC RAW MATERIALS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS TRADE.

+WE DO NOT ENVISAGE AT THIS STAGE THAT IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO RE-IMPOSE QUOTA CONTROLS, BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN A WATCHING BRIEF IN CASE THERE IS ANY SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE SUPPLY SITUATION,+ HE SAID.

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