USDA/AMS Proposed Increase in Specialty Crop Inspection Fees

USDA/AMS Proposed Increase in Specialty Crop Inspection Fees

The Specialty Crops Inspection Division of U.S Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service is proposing to increase inspection fees effective October 1, 2016. The agency has indicated that 97 percent of program costs are funded by user fees, which have not increased since 2007. Due to rising personnel costs the agency has indicated that fee increases are necessary to fund the program. The proposed increases do not affect inspection fees for products such as olives and dates which are covered by federal marketing order inspections. The following table lists the proposed changes in fees:

Type of Fee                Current Rate       Proposed Rate       % Change
Lot Inspections       $62/hour          $65/hour                    5%

In-Plant Inspections   $49/hour             $63/hour              22%
(Year-round)

Additional Grader   $65/hour                 $72/hour                    10%
(Seasonal)

Please contact Rob Neenan at CLFP at (916) 640-8150 if you have any concerns that you would like to convey to USDA when this change is formally announced via a Federal Register notice in June.

California League Of Food Producers