Changes in Fees for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection Services-Calendar Year (CY) 2003

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending its regulations to change the fees that it charges meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, importers, and exporters for providing voluntary inspection services, overtime and holiday inspection services, identification services, certification services, and laboratory services. The Agency is raising the fees for voluntary base time and holiday and overtime inspection services. These increases in fees reflect, among other factors, the national and locality pay raise for Federal employees (4.1 percent increase effective January 2003) and inflation. FSIS is also decreasing the fee for laboratory services because of greater efficiencies realized. The Agency is not changing the annual fee it charges for the Accredited Laboratory Program.