APHIS raises inspection fees 10%

APHIS raises inspection fees 10%    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said in an interim rulemaking it will increase its fees charged by 10 percent for certain quarantine and inspection services involving commercial trucks, railcars, vessels and planes, effective Oct. 1.
   The agency acknowledged that user fee collections have diminished due to the down economy, but said inspections and other related support services, which are paid for by these fees, have remained the same due to the risk level of pests and diseases entering the United States from abroad.
   'This action is necessary to ensure that the funding is adequate in order to continue these important inspection activities that help prevent the introduction of plant and animal pests and diseases into the United States,' the agency said in a statement.
   APHIS last adjusted its agriculture quarantine and inspection fees on Jan. 1, 2005, due to the need for increased inspections after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
   The fee increases per commercial cargo conveyance include:
   ' Aircraft, from $70.75 in fiscal year 2009 to $78 in fiscal year 2010.
   ' Vessel, from $494 to $544.
   ' Loaded rail car, from $7.75 to $8.75.
   ' Truck, from $5.25 to $6.
   ' Truck transponders, from $105 to $120.
   For more details, read the Sept. 28 Federal Register notice.