![](media/image1.wmf){width="6.4944444444444445in"
height="1.1305555555555555in"}

APHIS: Melissa O'Dell (301) 734-5222

CBP: Erlinda Byrd (202) 344-1593

**INSPECTION AND USER FEE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL TRUCKS, RAILROAD
CARS ENTERING THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA**

**BEGIN JUNE 1**

WASHINGTON, May 30, 2007\--Beginning June 1, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in
coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and
Border Protection (CBP), will enforce inspection and user fee
requirements for all commercial trucks and loaded railroad cars entering
the United States from Canada.

In an interim rule published Aug. 25, 2006, APHIS announced that it
would remove the inspection exemption for Canadian-grown fruits and
vegetables and the user fee exemption for commercial vessels, trucks,
railroad cars and aircraft, as well as international passengers entering
the United States from Canada. Implementation of the new requirements
and collection of user fees was staggered to allow affected industries
time to prepare for the change. This marks the final phase of
implementation.

On Jan. 1, 2007, air passengers arriving in the United States 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 user fee exemption for all commercial vessels and aircraft entering
the United States from Canada. All inspections on the U.S.-Canada border
are conducted by 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 current agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fee
amounts are as follows:

-   Commercial Trucks: \$5.25 per entry; \$105 annually with a purchased
    transponder.

-   Commercial Vessels (100 net tons or more): \$490 per entry. After
    the 15th entry, no charge.

-   Loaded Commercial Railroad Cars: \$7.75 per entry.

-   Commercial Aircraft: \$70.50 per arrival.

-   International Airline Passengers: \$5 per arrival.

\- more -

\- 2 -

The user fee amount changes on October 1 of each year. For the most
current fees, please visit
[www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/ufees/ufees.html](http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/ufees/ufees.html).

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 AQI costs through user fees and expand AQI activities
along the U.S.-Canada border.

For more information, please visit the APHIS Web site at
[www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/index.shtml](http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/index.shtml)
and, under "Hot issues" click on the link for Agriculture Inspection and
User Fee.

\#

Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media
advisories are available on the Internet. Go to the APHIS news release
page at <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/newsroom>. Also, anyone with an
e-mail address can sign up to receive APHIS press releases
automatically. Send an e-mail message to
<lyris@mdrdlyriss10.aphis.usda.gov> and leave the subject blank. In the
message, type

subscribe press_releases.