APHIS Delays Fee Hike

(Journal of Commerce Online – R.G.Edmonson)

Postponement until Nov.1 to give companies time to prepare

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced that an inspection fee increase will be delayed until November 1. The agency previously announced that the increase would take effect October 1. The delay will give companies that pay the fees more time to prepare for the new fees, APHIS said.

Last week APHIS announced agricultural quarantine and inspection fee increases averaging 10%. The agency said the increases were necessary to offset the loss of revenue due to reduced traffic volume at the border.

The announcement is in last week’s Federal Register.