Full Canada-U.S. Border Inspections Start

WASHINGTON - May 31/07 - SNS -- All commercial vehicles bound for the United States from Canada will be subject to full inspection by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

All inspections on the U.S.-Canada border are conducted by CBP and are intended to "further prevent the introduction of plant and animal pests and diseases into the United States via conventional pathways or through bioterrorism."

The current agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fee amounts are as follows:

Commercial Trucks: $5.25 per entry; $105 annually with a purchased transponder.

Commercial Vessels (100 net tons or more): $490 per entry. After the 15th entry, no charge.

Loaded Commercial Railroad Cars: $7.75 per entry.

Commercial Aircraft: $70.50 per arrival.

International Airline Passengers: $5 per arrival.

The user fee amount changes on October 1 of each year. For the most current fees, please visit www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/ufees/ufees.html.