The article suggests that the export tender scheme which would again allow EC exports of butter to the USSR is likely to come into force at the beginning of December 1982. The revised scheme avoids mentioning the USSR but applies to all destinations, of which the USSR is likely to be the most important. It is suggested that some 50 000 t of butter are likely to be moved to the USSR within a few weeks of the opening of the scheme, and that total EC exports of butter to the USSR could exceed 100 000 t by mid 1983. The possibility that these EC sales could be preempted by a US decision to dump a large part of their 200 000 t of surplus 'mature' butter on the USSR market is discussed. The cost of EC sales of surplus butter to the USSR is estimated at around ECU 14 000 per t or ECU 40 mill for sales of 100 000 t.