[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 22, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 67436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19787]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Parts 319 and 354

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0096]


Agricultural Inspection and AQI User Fees Along the U.S./Canada 
Border; Delay of Effective Date

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: We recently published an interim rule amending the foreign 
quarantine and user fee regulations by removing the exemptions from 
inspection for imported fruits and vegetables grown in Canada and the 
exemptions from user fees for commercial vessels, commercial trucks, 
commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international air 
passengers entering the United States from Canada. That interim rule 
had an effective date of November 24, 2006. We are delaying the 
effective date of the removal of the user fee exemption for 
international air passengers until January 1, 2007, and the effective 
date for the remaining provisions of the rule, including the removal of 
the exemption from user fees for commercial vessels, commercial trucks, 
commercial railroad cars, and commercial aircraft entering the United 
States from Canada, until March 1, 2007. We are making these changes to 
allow additional time for affected entities to make necessary 
preparations to comply with the inspection and collection procedures 
that we will be instituting as a result of the interim rule.

DATES: The effective date for the interim rule amending 7 CFR parts 319 
and 354, published at 71 FR 50320, August 25, 2006, is delayed until 
March 1, 2007, except for the rule's amendments to paragraphs (f)(2) 
and (f)(3) of 7 CFR 354.3, which are delayed until January 1, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alan S. Green, Executive Director, 
Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 36, Riverdale, 
MD 20737; (301) 734-8261.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The regulations in 7 CFR part 319 prohibit or restrict the 
importation of certain plants and plant products into the United States 
to prevent the introduction of plant pests. Similarly, the regulations 
in 9 CFR subchapter D prohibit or restrict the importation of certain 
animals and animal products into the United States to prevent the 
introduction of pests or diseases of livestock. The regulations in 7 
CFR part 354 provide rates and requirements for overtime services 
relating to imports and exports and for user fees.
    On August 25, 2006, we published an interim rule in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 50320-50328) amending the regulations in 7 CFR parts 
319 and 354 by removing the exemptions from inspection for imported 
fruits and vegetables grown in Canada and the exemptions from user fees 
for commercial vessels, commercial trucks, commercial railroad cars, 
commercial aircraft, and international air passengers entering the 
United States from Canada. As a result of this action, all agricultural 
products imported from Canada were to be subject to inspection, and 
commercial conveyances, as well as airline passengers arriving on 
flights from Canada, were to be subject to inspection and user fees. 
The interim rule had an effective date of November 24, 2006.

Delay in Effective Date

    We recently received comments from industry representatives and the 
Government of Canada expressing concern about the possible impact of 
the rule on affected entities and questioning whether the November 2006 
effective date allowed adequate time for those entities to prepare to 
comply with the new inspection and collection procedures that we would 
be instituting in order to enforce the interim rule. A delay of the 
effective date was requested. After evaluating the comments, we have 
elected to delay the effective date of the interim rule. We are 
delaying the effective date of the removal of the user fee exemption 
for international air passengers until January 1, 2007, and the 
effective date for the remaining provisions of the rule, including the 
removal of the exemption from user fees for commercial vessels, 
commercial trucks, commercial railroad cars, and commercial aircraft 
entering the United States from Canada, until March 1, 2007.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, 7781-7786, and 8301-8317; 21 
U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 49 U.S.C. 80503; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of November 2006.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-19787 Filed 11-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P