USDA Increasing Fees for Quarantine and Inspection Services

(World Trade Interactive)

The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an interim rule that, effective October 1, will increase by about 10% the fees charged for certain agricultural quarantine and inspection services provided in connection with certain commercial vessels, trucks, railroad cars and aircraft arriving at ports in the U.S. customs territory.

APHIS states that while the recent downturn in the U.S. economy has negatively impacted user fee collections, inspection and related support services continue to be provided at their existing levels, so a fee increase is needed to meet expenses that have not decreased. Comments on the higher fees are due by November 27.

• commercial vessels – $544, up from $494

• commercial trucks – $6.00 for a single border crossing, up from $5.25, and $120 for a transponder, up from $105

• commercial railroad cars – $8.75 per car, up from $7.75

• commercial aircraft – $78.00 per aircraft, up from $70.50