TRADE ALERT

U.S.D.A. IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL INSPECTION

USER FEES ALONG U.S./CANADA BORDER DELAYED

(November 21, 2006)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is delaying the effective date and establishing a staggered implementation for the collection of user fees for inspections of Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables.

The interim rule was scheduled to take effect on November 24, 2006. The delay is intended to allow affected industries time to prepare for the change.

Effective January 1, 2007, air passengers arriving in the United States from Canada will no longer be exempt from the international air passenger user fee. Effective March 1, 2007, the remaining provisions of the rule will take effect, including the removal of the user fee exemption for all commercial conveyances entering the United States from Canada.

The complete U.S.D.A. press release may be viewed at:

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/2/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2006%2F11%2F0451.xml&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RELEASE#7_2_5JM

Deringer's consulting & regulatory affairs group offers a full scope of services to support importers/exporters, carriers, and supply chain partners. For more information regarding this advisory, please call 518-297-3511, or email us at consulting@anderinger.com