APHIS PROPOSES EXTENSION OF 2002 USER FEES

APHIS PROPOSES EXTENSION OF 2002 USER FEES    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service extended its fiscal 2002 user fee rates beyond Sept. 30 through an interim rule published Sept. 3.
   “This interim rule amends the AQI (agricultural quarantine and inspection) user fee regulations to ensure that current fees remain in effect until adjusted through further rulemaking,” APHIS said.
   APHIS is authorized to collect fees for services, such as preclearance or preinspection at a site outside Customs’ control, under the 1990 Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act.
   Individuals may still comment on the interim rule. These comments must be submitted to APHIS (Docket No. 02-085-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238) by no later than Nov. 4. For more information, contact Jim Smith, assistant director of port operations for APHIS, at 301-734-8295.