Melissa O’Dell (301) 734-5222
Jerry Redding (202) 720-4623
USDA DELAYS INSPECTION AND USER FEE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL TRUCKS, RAILROAD CARS ENTERING THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2007--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is delaying the effective date for the collection of user fees from March 1, 2007, to June 1, 2007, for inspections of commercial trucks and railroad cars entering the United States from Canada.
In an interim rule published on Aug. 25, 2006, APHIS announced that it would remove the inspection exemption for Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables and user fee exemption for commercial vessels, trucks, railroad cars and aircraft, as well as international passengers entering the United States from Canada.
Effective March 1, the removal of the inspection exemption for Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables and the user fee exemption for all commercial vessels and aircraft entering the United States from Canada will take effect. The remaining provisions of the rule (i.e. the removal of the user fee exemption for commercial trucks and commercial railroad cars entering the United States from Canada) will take effect June 1, 2007.
All inspections on the U.S.-Canada border are conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These inspections are necessary to further prevent the introduction of plant and animal pests and diseases into the United States via conventional pathways or through bioterrorism. Recent inspections along the U.S.-Canada border resulted in numerous interceptions of prohibited fruits and vegetables, originating from regions other than Canada. These products pose a risk of introducing plant pests into the United States. APHIS is also concerned about agricultural and other products originating in Canada that could serve as host material for pests and diseases if left uninspected.
The amended regulations will decrease the risk of pests and diseases entering the United States from Canada and will enable APHIS and CBP to recover their agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) costs through user fees and expand AQI activities along the U.S.-Canada border.
Notice of this action is scheduled for publication in the Feb. 26 Federal Register.
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