APHIS Final Rule Increases Export Certification User Fees for Plant and Plant Products, Etc.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule to increase the user fees charged for export certification of plants and plant products, to add a new user fee for Federal export certificates obtained from a State or county cooperator, and to make several non-substantive changes to APHIS' user fee regulations for clarity.
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Plant and Plant Product Export Certification User Fees Increase Starting Oct 1st
Effective October 1, 2009 (the start of fiscal year 2010), the final rule increases the agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) export certification user fees for plants and plant products for FYs 2010 - 2012 and subsequent years as follows:
Commercial shipments. The AQI user fee for an export or re-export certificate for a commercial shipment will increase to $77 in FY 2010 (from $50), to $104 in FY 2011, and to $106 in FY 2012 and in subsequent years.
Low-value commercial shipments. The AQI user fee for an export or re-export certificate for low-value commercial shipments (i.e., those valued at less than $1,250) will increase to $42 in FY 2010 (from $23), to $60 in FY 2011, and to $61 in FY 2012 and in subsequent years.
Noncommercial shipments. The AQI user fee for an export or re-export certificate for noncommercial shipments will increase to $42 in FY 2010 (from $23), to $60 in FY 2011, and to $61 in FY 2012 and in subsequent years.
Replacements. The AQI user fee for replacing any such certificate will increase to $11 in FY 2010 (from $7) and to $15 in FY 2011 and in subsequent years.
Adds New User Fee for Certificates Issued on APHIS' Behalf by States/Counties
In addition, the final rule establishes a new administrative user fee for each Federal certificate issued on behalf of APHIS by a U.S. State or county. For FY 2010, the fee will be $3 when a certificate is issued through the Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking (PCIT) system and $6 for a paper certificate. These fees will rise to $6 and $12, respectively, for the following year and in subsequent years.
Fees to Increase to Recover APHIS' Costs
APHIS states it is adjusting the user fees charged for export certification of plants and plant products for the first time in 12 years and that the increases are necessary in order to properly recover its costs of providing such services.
(See final rule for discussion of comments APHIS received on its June 2007 proposed rule and subsequent changes APHIS made to the final rule including: (i) deciding to make the user fee increases effective at the start of FY 2010 instead of on the date of the final rule's publication; and (ii) lowering the new fee to be charged for state or county-issued Federal export certificates.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 06/15/07 news, 07061599 4, for BP summary of APHIS' proposed rule.)
APHIS contact - Marcus McElvaine (301) 734-8414
APHIS final rule (D/N APHIS-2006-0137, FR Pub 07/08/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-16146.pdf
APHIS press release (dated 07/08/09) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2009/07/ppusefee.shtml