Tobacco Fees and Charges for Permissive Inspection and Certification; Fee Revisions

This rule revises the fee structure and increases fees for domestic permissive inspection and grading of tobacco. Under the Tobacco Inspection Act, fees collected must cover, as nearly as practicable, the Department's costs for performing the inspection service, including administrative and supervisory costs. The fee for permissive inspection of tobacco at receiving points will be based upon poundage and will be set at the same rate as for mandatory inspection at auction, which is $.01 per pound. The fee for permissive inspection at redrying plants will continue to be on an hourly basis and will be increased by about 46 percent. These revisions do not affect the fee for the mandatory inspection of tobacco sold at designated auction markets or permissive export certification.