U.S. Code of Federal Regulations
Regulations most recently checked for updates: Dec 09, 2023
(a) Who must pay APHIS user fees? Any person for whom a service is provided related to the importation, entry, or exportation of an animal, article, or means of conveyance or related to veterinary diagnostics, and any person requesting such service, shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of fees assessed.
(b) Associated charges—(1) Reservation fee. Any reservation fee paid by an importer under part 93 of this chapter will be applied to the APHIS user fees described in § 130.3(b) and (c) for animals or birds quarantined in an animal import center.
(2) Special handling expenses. The user fees in this part do not include any costs that may be incurred due to special mail handling, including, but not limited to, express, overnight, or foreign mailing. If any service requires special mail handling, the user must pay all costs incurred, in addition to the user fee for the service.
(3) When do I pay an additional amount for employee(s) working overtime? You must pay an additional amount if you need an APHIS employee to work on a Sunday, on a holiday, or at any time outside the normal tour of duty of that employee. You pay the amount specified in this paragraph (b)(3) as relevant, for each employee needed to get the work done.
(i) What additional amount do I pay if I receive a flat rate user fee service? In addition to the flat rate user fee(s), you pay the overtime rate listed in Table 1 of this section for each employee needed to get the work done:
(ii) What amount do I pay if I receive an hourly rate user fee service? Instead of paying the normal hourly rate user fee described in § 130.4(a), you pay the premium rate described in § 130.4(b) for each employee needed to get the work done:
Table 1 to Paragraph (
| Service provided | Outside of the employee's
normal tour of duty | Overtime rates by hour | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 2, 2015–Sept. 30, 2016 | Oct. 1, 2016–Sept. 30, 2017 | Beginning
Oct. 1, 2017 | ||
| Rate for inspection, testing, certification or quarantine of animals, animal products or other commodities 3 | Monday through Saturday and holidays | $75 | $75 | $75 |
| Sundays | 99 | 99 | 100 | |
| Rate for commercial airline inspection services 4 | Monday through Saturday and holidays | 64 | 65 | 65 |
| Sundays | 85 | 86 | 86 | |
1 APHIS will charge a minimum charge of 2 hours, unless performed on the employee's regular workday and performed in direct continuation of the regular workday or begun within an hour of the regular workday.
2 When the 2-hour minimum applies, you may need to pay commuted travel time. (See § 97.1(b) of this chapter for specific information about commuted travel time.)
3 See § 97.1(a) of this chapter or 7 CFR 354.3 for details.
4 See § 97.1(a)(3) of this chapter for details.
(c) When are APHIS user fees due?—(1) Animal and bird quarantine and related tests. User fees for animals and birds in an Animal Import Center or privately operated permanent or temporary import quarantine facilities, including user fees for tests conducted on these animals or birds, must be paid prior to the release of those animals or birds from quarantine.
(2) Supervision and inspection services for export animals, animal products and byproducts. User fees for supervision and inspection services described in § 130.4 must be paid when billed, or, if covered by a compliance agreement signed in accordance with this chapter, must be paid as specified in the agreement.
(3) Export health certificates. User fees for export health certificates described in § 130.3(f) must be paid prior to receipt of endorsed certificates. If APHIS determines that the user has established an acceptable credit history, the user may request to pay when billed.
(4) Veterinary diagnostics. User fees specified for veterinary diagnostic services, such as tests on samples submitted to NVSL or FADDL, diagnostic reagents, slide sets, tissue sets, and other veterinary diagnostic services, must be paid when the veterinary diagnostic service is requested. If APHIS determines that the user has established an acceptable credit history, the user may request to pay when billed.
(5) Other user fee services. User fees for import or entry services for land border ports along the United States-Mexico or United States-Canada border, inspection of germplasm being exported, release from export agricultural hold, and other services described in § 130.4 must be paid when service is provided (for example when live animals are inspected when presented for importation at a port of entry). If APHIS determines that the user has established an acceptable credit history, the user may request to pay when billed.
(d) What payment methods are acceptable? Payment must be for the exact amount due and may be paid by:
(1) Cash. Cash will be accepted only during normal business hours if payment is made at an APHIS office or an Animal Import Center;
(2) Checks. All types of checks, including traveler's checks, drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars and made payable to the U.S. Department of Agriculture or USDA;
(3) Money orders. Money orders, drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars and made payable to the U.S. Department of Agriculture or USDA; or
(4) Credit cards. Credit cards (VISA
