Jessica Milteer (301) 734-3265
Andrea McNally (301) 734-0602
USDA WITHDRAWS INTERIM RULE FOR INCREASING USER FEES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND INTERNATIONAL AIR PASSENGERS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2009--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is withdrawing the recently published interim rule to increase fees charged for certain agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) services based on feedback and comments from stakeholders. The increase in fees was scheduled to take effect on Nov. 1.
USDA collects user fees to cover costs associated with inspecting commercial vessels, trucks, rail cars, aircraft and international passengers to prevent prohibited agricultural pests and diseases from entering the United States. After considering comments received at two stakeholder listening sessions and through other communications, APHIS has decided to further assess the need for adjusting the fees and to withdraw the interim rule.
APHIS typically makes adjustments to AQI user fees every five years through federal rulemaking. The user fees were last adjusted in 2005.
Notice of the withdrawal is scheduled for publication in the Nov. 4 Federal Register.
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