AQI User Fees and Inspection Requirements for Commercial Trucks, Railroad Cars Entering the U.S. from Canada Begin June 1, 2007
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a news release announcing that, in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it will enforce inspection and agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fee requirements for all commercial trucks and loaded railroad cars entering the U.S. from Canada beginning June 1, 2007.
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AQI fees for commercial vehicles are collected by CBP for APHIS. AQI fees for commercial vessels, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international air passengers are paid directly to APHIS. All inspections on the U.S.-Canada border are conducted by CBP.
Trucks, Railroad Cars Begin June 1; Air, Vessels, Etc. Already Implemented
In August 2006, APHIS issued an interim rule which stated that as of November 24, 2006, Canada would no longer be exempt from AQI user fees for commercial trucks, commercial vessels, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international air passengers, which enter the U.S. from Canada. The interim rule also removed the exemptions from inspection for imported fruits and vegetables grown in Canada.
APHIS delayed the November 24, 2006 effective date set forth by the interim rule and established a staggered implementation for the collection of AQI user fees and the inspection of Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables, to allow affected industries time to prepare for the change.
On January 1, 2007, air passengers arriving in the U.S. from Canada began paying user fees, which are now included in the cost of their plane tickets.
Effective March 1, 2007, APHIS removed the inspection exemption for Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables as well as the AQI user fee exemption for all commercial vessels and aircraft entering the U.S. from Canada.
The implementation of the new requirements and collection of AQI user fees for commercial trucks and railroad cars beginning June 1, 2007 marks the final phase of implementation.
See future issue of ITT for details on the current AQI user fee amounts.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/07/06 news, 06090720, for BP summary of the interim rule, which gave an effective date of November 24, 2006 for all commercial carriers and air passengers.
See ITT's Online Archives or 11/21/06 news, 06112110, for BP summary announcing the delay of the requirements and fees, giving an implementation date of January 1, 2007 for air passengers and March 1, 2007 for all affected transportation modes.
See ITT's Online Archives or 02/27/07 news, 07022710, for BP summary of APHIS further delaying the requirements and fees for commercial trucks and railroad cars.
See ITT's Online Archives or 03/23/07 news, 07032310, for BP summary of CBP's updated information on user fee decals and transponders, which provides prices for transponders, per-crossing fees, etc.)
APHIS press release (dated 05/30/07) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2007/05/canfee3.shtml
(alsoavailable on CBP's Web site at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/05302007.xml)