USDA increases veterinary diagnostic fees for live animal shipments

USDA increases veterinary diagnostic fees for live animal shipments    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will increase its veterinary diagnostic fees for live animal and bird shipments, starting June 7.
   “These actions are necessary to ensure that we recover the actual costs of providing these services,” the agency said. “We are also providing for a reasonable balance, or reserve, in the veterinary diagnostics user fee account.”
   USDA said it received one negative comment from a Pacific Northwest livestock exporter who claimed the increases could force him to cease operations or relocate to Canada, where he says costs are cheaper. The agency downplayed the exporter’s concern. “We do not anticipate that the fee increases in this rule will cause exports to decline or result in decreased testing,” USDA said.
   For a complete list of the fee increases, access online: https://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-10309.htm.