APHIS Seeks Comments on Proposal to Strengthen Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection Program

The Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are considering raising user fees for the Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) program. This program ensures that cargo and passenger baggage entering the U.S. are inspected for plant pests and animal diseases that could harm U.S. agriculture and trade. The current fees, last updated in 2015, are inadequate due to changes in international travel, increased agricultural cargo imports, and a heavier workload for APHIS employees. The proposed fee increase aims to address these financial challenges. Comments on this proposal can be submitted until October 10th.

To view the proposed fee schedule, visit: Projected Fees for Agricultural Quarantine Inspections, FY2024-2028

To comment on the proposal, visit: APHIS-2022-0023-0001 Comments