USDA changes dairy import licensing program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the changes to the program will allow license holders to more easily adjust to changing market conditions affecting the dairy sector.    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has made several changes to its dairy tariff-rate import quota licensing program, effective Sept. 1.
   Among the program changes, USDA will suspend the historical license reduction provision, currently set to expire at the start of 2016, for an additional seven years. “This change will allow license holders to adjust to changing market conditions affecting the dairy sector,” USDA said in a statement.
   The department said it will also modify its procedures for collecting licensing fees to better align fee collection to the costs of administering the program. In addition, USDA will increase the operational efficiency of the program by requiring the use of electronic communications in the application, reporting and payment processes.