The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the fees they will charge for voluntary grading, inspection, certification, auditing and laboratory services for agricultural commodities including meat and poultry, eggs, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, cotton and tobacco.
The 2017 regular, overtime, holiday, and laboratory service rates will be applied at the beginning of the crop year, fiscal year, or as required by law, depending on the product. The effective dates of their new fees range from June 1, 2017, to January 1, 2018.
Most fees are charged on a per-hour rate, but in some instances based on the equivalent per-unit cost. Some of their fees are actually decreased due to efficiencies and cost cutting measures.
AMS collects these fees to recover their costs in inspection, grading, certification or auditing services.
If you have any questions regarding the fees AMS will be charging for 2017, Livingston can help! Please contact either your Livingston account manager or our regulatory affairs group at usregaffairs@livingstonintl.com.