Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (May 13, 1994)

2-(2) Improvement of JAS Standards for Radiata Pine

1. Complainant: Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

3. Complaint:

JAS standards for forestry products are set down according to use and grades are determined according to results of strength tests.

The complainant states that since there are problems with strength evaluation methods under JAS standards, radiata pine, the main afforested forestry product in New Zealand, is assigned an unfairly low grading and believes that JAS standards should be improved as described below.

(1) JAS 143: structural soft wood lumber

Radiata pine grows faster than other species, the correlation between average width of annual rings and strength is low, and the strength of the pith and the central core is low compared to other portions.

For this reason, under JAS 600 (structural lumber for wood frame construction), strength standards for radiata pine only are based on central core or pith, and not on average width of annual rings.

However, under JAS 143, newly established in 1991, standards according to average width of annual rings are applied to radiata pine as well, meaning that there is no compatibility and that therefore the standards applying to central core or pith under JAS 600 should be applied.

(2) JAS 702: machine stress rated structural lumber for wood frame construction

After using a machine to measure strength and grade according to strength of material, visual examination is carried out. But, in the examination, there are restrictions on the number of amount of knots which may be found on the edge (portion close to the edge on the long side of the lumber). Since it seem little correlation between amount of knots on the edges and strength, this regulation should be eliminated or relaxed.

(3) JAS 601: glued laminated timber and JAS 2054: structural glued laminated timber with large dimension

These regulations contain grades from A1 to B2, depending on species of conifer, and radiata pine is classified to grade B2 (the lowest grade).

However, grading of materials should be carried out according to test results, and since radiata pine may not always be graded B2 if tested, the current grades should be reviewed and regulations reviewed so that grading is done according to test results for each material.

4. Results of deliberation:

(1) Most of radiata pine has more than 6mm width between annual rings on an average but according to strength test results, under JAS600 for small cross section lumber used for 2 x 4 construction, radiata pine has sufficient strength. Thus the regulations for strength based on average width of annual rings do not apply, and regulations concerning central core or pith apply instead. For JAS 143, which is the standard for medium cross section timber used for current post-and-beam construction, however, since regulations based on average width of annual rings are used, radiata pine is assigned a low grade or sometimes even fails to meet JAS grading standards, and the complainant's assertion can be understood.

However, so far data on the average width of annual rings and the strength of radiata pine concerning JAS 143 and on the correlation between average width of annual rings and strength has not been collected.

Therefore technical evaluation on the possibility of establishment of the requirements of central core or pith for radiata pine concerning JAS 143 replacing that of the average width of annual rings should be carried out soon after the presentation of the necessary data provided by the compliant.

(2) Regarding the correlation between the number of knots on edges of lumber and strength, the ministry concerned and the complainant should promote a technical evaluation on the correlation considering data and other conditions in order to acquire mutual understanding.

(3) Regarding the revision of JAS 601 and 2054, in the case the complainant apply to participate in the elaboration process, the Japanese side should allow them and examine the possibility of classifying radiata pine in a higher grade based on objective test results to reach a logical solution to this issue.

Further, even if the species of tree is classified in a low grade, it is possible for some material made from the species to have the same strength as species classified in higher grades, and introducing standards for grading by mechanical means each time, using data and other sources, should be considered.

Government decision (June 24, 1994)

2-(2) JAS specifications for lumber

JAS specifications for lumber

(1) Regarding quality standards for radiata pine under JAS 143 (structural soft wood lumber), discussions on specific testing methods and how to carry out tests will be held with the complainant and technical studies will be undertaken soon regarding the possibility of establishing standards for central core or pith, instead of standards for average width of annual rings, as In JAS 600 (structural lumber for wood frame construction).

(2) Regarding JAS 702 (machine stress rated structural lumber for wood frame construction), discussions will be held soon to establish mutual understanding concerning the correlation between strength and the amount of knots along lumber edges.

(3) Regarding changes in specifications for JAS 601 (glued laminated timber) and JAS 2054 (structural glued laminated timber with large dimension), a conclusion will be reached by November 1995 concerning the possibility of grading radiata pine in a higher grade and of introducing classification standards for grading individual lumber each time.

Follow-up (June 5, 1995)

2-(2) Improvement of JAS Standards for Radiata Pine

(1) JAS 143: structural soft wood lumber

A meeting was held with the New Zealand embassy in May 1994, at which testing methods were presented and test data were requested. Standards will be revised in about one year after the necessary test data have been received.

(2) JAS 702: machine stress rated structural lumber for wood frame construction

A meeting was held with the New Zealand embassy in May 1994 to discuss technical issues, and such meetings will be continued.

(3) JAS 601: glued laminated timber and JAS 2054: structural glued laminated timber with large dimension

Work is currently proceeding to establish new standards for structural laminated timber by combining both of the above standards. Based on comments by New Zealand, standards for classifying species, including radiata pine, will be reviewed, the machine stress rating indicating resistance to bending of each type of board used in glued laminated timber will be measured, and a grading system based on this will be introduced. This will also make it possible to grade materials individually.

The above revisions will be made after meetings of the JAS specialist committee and the JAS deliberation council is held, and the necessary procedures including notification to the WTO are taken. The new JAS standards for structural glued laminated timber is scheduled to be announced by around November 1995.