USDA SETS DAIRY IMPORT QUOTA LICENSE FEE FOR 2003
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would assess a $170 fee for each 2003 tariff-rate quota license issued to dairy product importers.
The USDA issues licenses on a calendar-year basis. They permit the license holder to import a specified amount and type of dairy product from specific countries of origin. The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service and the Customs Service monitor the use of these licenses.
USDA said the license fee helps to cover the costs of administering its licensing program. The total cost of the USDA licensing system for 2002 was about $441,700 and the number of licenses issued was about 2,600.