Notice of pending Cost / Fuel increases.

On the 10^th. Sept. last a news item appeared in this media highlighting the situation relating to increases in fuel costs and the consequent effect on freight transport costs.

In EFL International Distribution and Skantrans Ireland we have continued to absorb these increases over the course of the last number of months and will continue to do so until the end of the current year.

In Jan. 2005 a proportion of these increased costs will have to be reflected in our pricing and details will be forwarded individually to all our customers during the month of December. January will see some other transport cost increases, which are out of our direct control and we have listed the following as an indication of these additional costs.

Germany:

The German Government will introduce a heavy vehicle tax, which was deferred from earlier this year. This ‘Maut’ will affect all transport both local and International using the German road system and will be based on weight and miles traveled. For more detailed information, please see German Maut.

Switzerland:

The Swiss will introduce the second phase of a 3-part HVT (heavy vehicle tax) increase on Jan. 1^st. For more detailed information, please see Swiss HVT

Austria:

As far as we can ascertain at this point in time thee will be no increase in the Austrian HVT which has been in place since January 2004.

Further details can be obtained from Eddie Mullin