The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the regulations governing the inspection and certification of fresh fruits, vegetables and other products to more equitably and accurately assess fees based on actual volume inspected. These changes include using either a per-pound fee structure for certain Section 8e import inspections or a minimum fee equivalent to a two-hour charge computed at the current established hourly rate, whichever is greater; and a 50% reduction to the sublot fee.
The current measurement, a carlot, is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as “any number of containers which contain a product of the same kind located on or unloaded from the same conveyance and available for inspection at the same time and location...”.
Modern shipping methods, such as bulk shipping containers, air freight, railcars, and others, can vary in size and weight. A per-pound based fee schedule will ensure USDA recovers costs for the actual time and resources needed to inspect the product and will allow shippers to assess the actual costs of inspections more accurately.
Customers with loads currently subject to additional sublot fees will see a 50% decrease in these fees. A sublot is generated when “the product differs markedly as to quality and/or condition, and such differences are definitely associated with certain brands, varieties, sizes or container markings.”
The final rule was published in the Federal Register Dec. 30, 2024, and will be effective Jan. 29, 2025.
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