USDA drops interim rule to raise inspection fees

USDA drops interim rule to raise inspection fees    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has decided to withdraw its interim rule to increase agricultural quarantine and inspection user fees, initially scheduled to take effect on Nov. 1.
   The agency based its decision on comments received during two recent public meetings and written comments regarding the user fee increase.
   “APHIS has decided to further assess the need for adjusting the fees and to withdraw the interim rule,” the agency said.
   In a Sept. 28 Federal Register notice, APHIS said it will increase its fees charged by 10 percent for certain quarantine and inspection services involving commercial trucks, railcars, vessels and planes, initially effective Oct. 1. The agency extended the effective date to Nov. 1.
   APHIS typically makes adjustments to agriculture quarantine and inspection user fees every five years through federal rulemaking. The user fees were last adjusted in 2005, the agency said.