Increase in Fees for Voluntary Federal Dairy Grading and Inspection Services

This final rule increases the fees for voluntary Federal dairy grading and inspection services. The fees will increase 10 percent effective August 2013 and an additional 10 percent effective February 2014. The fees applicable to European Union Health Certification Program derogation requests are unchanged. Dairy grading and inspection services are voluntary and are financed in their entirety through user fees assessed to participants using the program. Despite the adoption of technologies that have improved services, additional changes in operations that enhanced efficiencies, and reduced employee numbers, increases in salaries, technology investments, and general inflation have more than offset savings resulting in the need to increase fees. AMS estimates the fee increase will result in an overall cost increase to the industry of less than $0.0004 per pound of dairy product graded.