The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is proposing changes to the dairy tariff-rate quota (TRQ) import licensing program.
If approved, this rule would amend the regulations for importing certain dairy products under low TRQ duty rates. Dairy licenses, issued on a calendar year basis, are required to import under the low TRQ rate, and are issued for specified quantities and types of dairy product, from a specified country.
FAS is proposing three significant changes:
- To suspend, for an additional several years, the historical license reduction provision. This is currently due to expire on January 1, 2016.
- To modify procedures in collecting licensing fees, to better align the fee collection to the costs of administration.
- To use electronic communication exclusively in the application, reporting and payment processes for new dairy licenses.
These changes would also help to reduce lag times in license processing.
Comment will be accepted on this proposed change until February 23, 2015.
Please contact FAS Specialist Abdelsalam El-Farra at telephone (202) 720-9439; fax (202) 720-0876; or email with specific questions about this proposed rule.
Questions about this regulatory update may be directed to Livingston’s U.S. Regulatory Affairs group .