The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it will be increasing inspection fees for fresh produce quality and condition, along with audit verification services. The rate for audit verification services are also scheduled to be raised. Rate increases that were recently published in a Federal Register notice are set to take effect on October 1.
Quality and condition inspection fees will be increasing ten percent, from $191 to $210. Audit verification services will also be increasing a little more six percent from $108 to $115. USDA indicated that the rates are used to cover the costs incurred by the agency in the provision of services as well as maintaining operational reserves for each program as mandated by Congress.
This year more than half of the Agricultural Marketing Service’s rates for voluntary grading, inspection, certification, auditing, and laboratory services for a variety of agricultural commodities including meat and poultry, fruits and vegetables, eggs, dairy products, and cotton will remain unchanged or will decrease.
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