USDA considers changes to dairy import quota program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has requested public comments on proposed changes to its dairy tariff-rate import quota licensing program.    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has requested public comments on proposed changes to its dairy tariff-rate import quota licensing program.
   USDA uses import licensing as a way to administer the tariff-rate quota system for U.S. imports of dairy products. 
   The proposed change will suspend the historic license reduction provision, currently set to expire at the start of 2016, for an additional seven years. According to USDA, this change will allow license holders to “adjust to changing market conditions” affecting the country’s dairy industry.
   “Modifications to procedures for collecting licensing fees will allow the department to align fee collection to the costs of administering the program. The proposed rule will also require all communications, like applications and payments, to be electronic to reduce lag times and increase program operation efficiency,” USDA explained.
   USDA must receive comments related to the proposed rule by no later than Feb. 23.