APHIS Delays AQI Fees for Canada Commercial Trucks, Railroad Cars to June 1 (Inspection, Fees for Commercial Vessels and Aircraft Effective March 1, Etc.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice and press release announcing that it is further delaying the March 1, 2007 effective date for the collection of agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fees for commercial trucks and railroad cars entering the U.S. from Canada until June 1, 2007.
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However, the March 1, 2007 effective date for the collection of AQI user fees for commercial vessels and commercial aircraft entering the U.S. from Canada and the inspection of Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables will remain unchanged.
(In September 2006, APHIS issued an interim rule which stated that as of November 24, 2006, Canada would no longer be exempt from AQI user fees for commercial vehicles, commercial vessels, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international air passengers, which enter the U.S. from Canada. The interim rule also removed the exemptions from AQI inspection for imported fruits and vegetables grown in Canada.
APHIS then delayed the November 24, 2006 effective date and established a staggered implementation for the collection of AQI user fees and the inspection of Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables.
AQI fees for commercial vehicles are collected by CBP for APHIS. AQI fees for commercial vessels, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international air passengers are paid directly to APHIS.)
Air Passengers Began Paying Fee on Jan. 1st, Commercial Vehicles, Others Begin on March 1st or June 1st
Effective January 1, 2007, air passengers arriving in the U.S. from Canada were no longer exempt from the international air passenger AQI user fee.
Effective March 1, 2007, the removal of the inspection exemption for Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables and the AQI user fee exemption for all commercial vessels and aircraft entering the U.S. from Canada will take effect.
Effective June 1, 2007 commercial trucks and railroad cars entering the U.S. from Canada will no longer be exempt from the AQI user fee.
Delay Will Allow Additional Time for Discussion with Government of Canada
APHIS states that it is making this change to allow additional time for it to conclude discussions with the Government of Canada regarding risks, inspections, and costs associated with land-border traffic entering the U.S. from Canada.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/07/06 news, 06090720, for BP summary of APHIS interim rule eliminating Canada's exemptions. See ITT's Online Archives or 11/21/06 news, 06112110, for BP summary of the delay of the effective date.See ITT's Online Archives or 11/06/06 news, 06110620 for BP summary on CBP's collection of the AQI fee for commercial vehicles.)
APHIS Contact- David Hanken (301) 734-5395
APHIS notice (D/N APHIS-2006-0096, FR Pub 02/26/07)) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-3255.pdf
APHIS press release (dated 02/22/07)http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2007/02/canfeedly.shtml