Export quota determination follows settled "best year's exports" criteria, not later claimed recalculation on newer export figures.

The export quota for peacock tail feathers for an established exporter was governed by the 1968 instruction requiring "best year's exports" to be taken from one of the three basic years ending September 1967. That settled basis had not been shown to be withdrawn, and the exporter's quota had consistently been allotted on that footing. The later 1985 instruction did not displace the earlier method, especially where the language relied on by the exporter appeared to have been inserted inadvertently. Recalculation of the quota on the basis of 1985-86 exports was therefore not warranted, and the existing allocation was maintained.

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Issues: Whether the quota for export of peacock tail feathers to established exporters had to be determined on the basis of the petitioner's export performance in 1985-86, or on the basis of the historical "best year's exports" under the governing export instructions.

Analysis: The governing export instruction of 1968 prescribed that the "best year's exports" for an established exporter were to be taken from one of the three basic years ending September 1967. That criteria had not been shown to have been withdrawn. The petitioner had been allotted quota consistently on that basis, and the record, including the association's letter, supported the respondents' understanding of the expression. The later instruction of 1985 was treated as not displacing the earlier settled basis, particularly where the words relied upon by the petitioner appeared to have been inserted inadvertently.

Conclusion: The petitioner was not entitled to recalculation of the quota on the basis of exports made in 1985-86, and the existing allocation on the earlier criteria was upheld.

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