As used in this part, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth in this section.

Administrator. The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or any person authorized to act for the Administrator.

Animal. All animals except birds, but including poultry.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Animal Import Center. Quarantine facilities operated by APHIS in Newburgh, New York, and Miami, Florida.

APHIS representative. An individual, including, but not limited to, an animal health technician or veterinarian, authorized by the Administrator to perform the services for which the user fees in this part are charged.

Bird. Any member of the class aves, other than poultry.

Consumer price index. The measure of the average change over time in prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics annually.

Cost of living. The adjusted annual rate used to determine the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living based on the economic assumptions in the Office of Management and Budget's Presidential Economic Assumptions.

Diagnostic reagent. Substances used in diagnostic tests to detect disease agents or antibodies by causing an identifiable reaction.

Direct operating costs. Costs attributed to travel and transportation for personnel; materials, supplies, and other necessary items; training; general office supplies; rent; facility maintenance; equipment purchase and maintenance; utilities; contractual services; and information system operations, maintenance, and development.

Direct pay (including benefits). The wage labor costs (on board and in the hiring process), including benefits, for employees who specifically support and provide the required service.

Equine. Any horse, ass, mule, or zebra.

Export health certificate. An official document that, as required by the importing country, is endorsed by an APHIS representative and states that animals, animal products, organisms, vectors, or birds to be exported from the United States were found to be healthy and free from evidence of communicable diseases and pests.

Feeder animal. Any animal imported into the United States under part 93 of this chapter for feeding.

Germplasm. Semen, embryos, or ova.

Import compliance assistance. Services provided to an importer whose shipment arrives at a port of entry without the necessary paperwork or with incomplete paperwork and who requires assistance to meet the requirements for entry into the United States. Fees for import compliance assistance are charged in addition to the flat rate user fees.

Imputed costs. Office of Workers' Compensation costs from the Department of Labor; costs of employee leave earned in a prior fiscal year and used in the current fiscal year; Office of Personnel Management and Department of State (State Department) costs to provide retirement, health, and life insurance benefits to employees; unemployment compensation costs; and Department of Justice judgment fund costs.

In-bond animal. Any animal imported into the United States under a United States Customs Service bond, as described in 19 CFR part 113.

National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). The National Veterinary Services Laboratories of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, located in Ames, Iowa.

National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL). The National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, located in Greenport, New York.

Person. An individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, or any other public or private entity, or any officer, employee, or agent thereof.

Pet birds. Birds, except hatching eggs and ratites, that are imported or exported for the personal pleasure of their individual owners and are not intended for resale.

Poultry. Chickens, doves, ducks, geese, grouse, guinea fowl, partridges, pea fowl, pheasants, pigeons, quail, swans, and turkeys.

Privately operated permanent import-quarantine facility. Any permanent facility approved under part 93 of this chapter to quarantine animals or birds, except facilities operated by APHIS.

Program, Agency, and Department support. Indirect or direct costs of the program, including supporting services provided to the industry.

Reserve. Funds above expected obligations that are required to effectively manage uncertainties in demand and timing to ensure sufficient operating funds in cases of bad debt, customer insolvency, fluctuations in activity volumes, information technology development costs, cash flow, facilities capital needs, or fluctuations in activity volumes caused by unforeseen global and national events.

Standard feed. Seed, or dry feeds such as dog food or monkey biscuits, whether soaked in water or not.

Test. A single analysis performed on a single specimen from an animal, animal product, commercial product, or animal feed.

United States. The several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and all other territories and possessions of the United States.

(a) Except as set forth in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section, for setting fee rates for each calendar year based upon the previous fiscal year, APHIS will calculate the rates for services as follows:

(1) APHIS will prorate the total Veterinary Services (VS) inspection, certification, or laboratory service program personnel direct pay (on board and in hiring process including benefits) for the previous fiscal year to each fee based upon the direct time factor percentage of employee's average time to perform and complete each fee code process and then multiply by the next year's percentage of cost of living increase.

(2) APHIS will prorate total direct operating costs for the previous fiscal year based upon the direct time factor percentage of employee's average time to perform and complete each fee code process to each fee and then multiply by the anticipated percentage of inflation for the next year.

(3) APHIS will add estimates for Program, Agency, and Department support costs, imputed costs, and reserves by applying a percentage based on information from Program, Agency, and Department officials and the Department of Treasury to the sum of the direct pay plus direct operating costs.

(4) The amounts derived via the process described in this paragraph (a) and paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section will be added and then APHIS will round up to the next $0.25 for all fees less than $10 or round up to the nearest dollar for all fees greater than $10 to develop the new rate for each code.

(b) If there is no identifiable volume in the previous year for the service provided by the fee, if the fee is rarely charged, or if APHIS cannot readily identify level of effort, APHIS will calculate the fee based on the last available historic data encompassing multiple instances of use and add any intervening inflation, overhead and support costs, imputed costs, and reserve.

(c) Fees for the exclusive use of space in animal import centers will be calculated using the following formula:

(1) APHIS will calculate fees by using direct employee average time (with benefits) and adding a prorated portion of currently identifiable expenses (facilities, rent, support cost, and admin support costs), program and support overhead expenses, imputed costs, and reserve.

(2) APHIS will combine the costs to determine the monthly cost of providing the service at a single location within the animal import center.

(3) APHIS will calculate the costs of the other locations within the animal import center based on the square footage of the location.

(d) Services listed in § 130.4 will be charged an hourly rate-based user fee in accordance with the provisions of that section.

(a) General standards. (1) User fee rates may be found online at www.aphis.usda.gov/business-services/vs-fees or by contacting [email protected]. Changes in rates will be proposed annually in the following manner:

(i) APHIS will propose changes to the fee rates found at www.aphis.usda.gov/business-services/vs-fees through publication of a notice in the Federal Register. The notice will provide information regarding the basis for any fee change and will take public comment.

(ii) Following the comment period, APHIS will issue a subsequent notice in the Federal Register providing the final rates. The notice will respond to any comments received on the initial notice.

(iii) When this subsequent notice is issued, APHIS will update the fee rates found at www.aphis.usda.gov/business-services/vs-fees accordingly.

(2) The person for whom the service is provided and the person requesting the service are jointly and severally liable for payment of user fees in accordance with this section.

(b) User fees for individual animals and certain birds quarantined in the APHIS-owned or -operated quarantine facilities, including APHIS Animal Import Centers. (1) Each user fee is assessed per animal or bird quarantined by APHIS. Special requirements may be requested by the importer or required by an APHIS representative. Certain conditions or traits, such as pregnancy or aggression, may necessitate special requirements for certain birds or poultry.

(2) For any animal or bird that requires a diet other than standard feed, including but not limited to diets of fruit, insects, nectar, or fish, the importer must either provide feed or pay for it on an actual cost basis, including the cost of delivery to the APHIS owned or operated Animal Import Center or quarantine facility.

(c) User fees for exclusive use of space at APHIS Animal Import Centers. (1) An importer may request to exclusively occupy a space at an APHIS animal import center. Any importer who occupies space for more than 30 days must pay 1/30th of the 30-day fee for each additional day or part of a day.

(2) Unless the importer cancels the reservation for exclusive use of space in time to receive a refund of the reservation fee in accordance with §§ 93.103, 93.204, 93.304, 93.404, or 93.504 of this chapter, as appropriate, the 30-day user fee will be effective as of the first day for which the importer has reserved the space and for the entirety of the reservation, regardless of whether the user occupies the space on that date or not.

(3) Users must provide APHIS personnel at the Animal Import Center, at the time they make a reservation for quarantine space, with the following information:

(i) Species of animals and birds to be quarantined;

(ii) Ages of animals and birds to be quarantined; and

(iii) Sizes of animals and birds to be quarantined.

(4)(i) APHIS personnel at the Animal Import Center will determine, based on the information provided by the importer under paragraph (b)(3) of this section, and on routine husbandry needs, the maximum number of animals and birds permitted in the requested building.

(ii) If APHIS personnel at the Animal Import Center determine the number of animals and birds requested by the importer can be housed in the space requested, but two animal health technicians cannot fulfill the routine husbandry needs of the number of animals or birds proposed by the importer, then the importer must either:

(A) Pay for additional services on an hourly basis; or

(B) Reduce the number of animals or birds to be quarantined to a number which APHIS personnel at the Animal Import Center determine can be handled by two animal health technicians.

(iii) If the importer requests additional services, then APHIS will calculate the user fees for any service rendered by an APHIS representative at the hourly rate user fee found online at www.aphis.usda.gov/business-services/vs-fees.

(iv) The importer must either provide feed or pay for it on an actual cost basis, including the cost of delivery to the APHIS owned or operated Animal Import Center or quarantine facility, for any animal or bird that requires a diet other than standard feed, including but not limited to diets of fruit, insects, nectar, or fish.

(d) User fees for inspection of live animals at land border ports along the United States-Canada border. If a service must be conducted on a Sunday or holiday or at any other time outside the normal tour of duty of the employee, then reimbursable overtime, as provided for in part 97 of this chapter, must be paid for each service, in addition to the user fee found online at www.aphis.usda.gov/business-services/vs-fees.

(e) User fees for pet birds. (1) Based on the information provided to APHIS personnel, APHIS personnel at the Animal Import Center or other APHIS owned or supervised quarantine facility will determine the appropriate number of birds that should be housed per isolette.

(2) If the importer requests additional services, then APHIS will calculate the user fees for those services at the hourly rate user fee found online at www.aphis.usda.gov/business-services/vs-fees for each employee required to perform the service.

(f) User fees for endorsing export certificates. (1) User fees for the endorsement of export health certificates that require the verification of tests or vaccinations are found online at www.aphis.usda.gov/business-services/vs-fees. APHIS will calculate the user fees to apply to each export health certificate endorsed 1 for animals and birds based on the number of animals or birds covered by the certificate and the number of tests or vaccinations required. However, there will be a maximum user fee of 12 times the hourly rate user fee.

(2) If an export certificate covers more than one animal, but the number of tests required for different animals are not the same, the user fee for the certificate is the fee which would be due if all the animals on the certificate required the same number of tests as the animal which requires the greatest number of tests.

(3) The user fees referenced in this section will not apply to an export health certificate if: (i) An APHIS veterinarian prepares the certificate for endorsement completely at the site of the inspection in the course of performing inspection or supervision services for the animals listed on the certificate; and

(ii) An APHIS user fee is payable under § 130.4 for the inspection or supervision services performed by the veterinarian.

(4) If a service must be conducted on a Sunday or holiday or at any other time outside the normal tour of duty of the employee, then reimbursable overtime, as provided for in part 97 of this chapter, must be paid for each service, in addition to the user fee listed in this section.

(g) User fees for inspection services outside the United States. (1) If inspection services (including inspection, testing, and supervision services) are performed outside the United States, in accordance with this title, and the regulations do not contain a provision for payment of the cost of the service, the person requesting the service must pay a user fee.

(2) Any person who wants APHIS to provide inspection services outside the United States must contact the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Strategy and Policy, Live Animal Imports at [email protected], to make an agreement.

(3) All agreements for inspection services outside the United States must include:

(i) Name, mailing address, and telephone number of either the person requesting the inspection services, or his or her agent;

(ii) Explanation of inspection services to be provided, including the regulations in this chapter which provide for the services;

(iii) Date(s) and time(s) the inspection services are to be provided;

(iv) Location (including street address) where inspection services are to be provided;

(v) An estimate of the actual cost, as calculated by APHIS, to provide the described inspection services for 6 months;

(vi) A statement that APHIS agrees to provide the inspection services;

(vii) A statement that the person requesting the inspection services, or, if appropriate, his or her agent, agrees to pay, at the time the agreement is entered into, a user fee equal to the estimated cost of providing the described inspection services for 6 months; and

(viii) A statement that the person requesting the inspection services, or, if appropriate, his or her agent, agrees to maintain a user fee payment account equal to the cost of providing the described inspection services for 6 months, as calculated monthly by APHIS.

(4) APHIS will enter into an agreement only if qualified personnel can be made available to provide the inspection services.

(5) An agreement can be terminated by either party on 30 days written notice.

(6) If, at the time an agreement is terminated, any unobligated funds remain in the user fee payment account, APHIS will refund the funds to the person who requested the inspection services, or his or her agent.

(a) Services subject to hourly rate user fees. User fees for import- or export-related veterinary services listed in paragraphs (a)(1) through (18) of this section, except those services covered by flat rate user fees, will be calculated at the hourly rate found online at www.aphis.usda.gov/business-services/vs-fees, for each employee required to perform the service. The person for whom the service is provided and the person requesting the service are jointly and severally liable for payment of these user fees in accordance with §§ 130.6 and 130.7.

(1) Providing services to live animals for import or entry at airports, ocean ports, and rail ports.

(2) Conducting inspections, including inspections of laboratories and facilities (such as biosecurity level two facilities), required either to obtain import permits for animal products and byproducts, aquaculture products, or organisms or vectors, or to maintain compliance with import permits. This hourly rate does not apply to inspection and approval of import/export facilities and establishments.

(3) Obtaining samples required to be tested, either to obtain import permits or to ensure compliance with import permits.

(4) Providing services for imported birds or ratites that are not subject to quarantine, such as monitoring birds—including but not limited to pet birds—between flights.

(5) Supervising the opening of in-bond shipments.

(6) Providing services for in-bond or in-transit animals to exit the United States.

(7) Inspecting an export isolation facility and the animals in it.

(8) Supervising animal or bird rest periods prior to export.

(9) Supervising loading and unloading of animals or birds for export shipment.

(10) Inspecting means of conveyance used to export animals or birds.

(11) Conducting inspections under part 156 of this chapter.

(12) Inspecting and approving an artificial insemination center or a semen collection center or the animals in it.

(13) Import or entry services for feeder animals including, but not limited to, feeder goats and feeder bison not covered by a flat rate user fee in connection with activities described in § 130.3(d).

(14) Export-related bird banding for identification.

(15) Export-related inspection and approval of pet food facilities, including laboratories that perform pet food testing.

(16) Export-related services provided at animal auctions.

(17) Various export-related facility inspections, including, but not limited to, fertilizer plants that utilize poultry waste, rendering plants, and potential embarkation facilities.

(18) Providing other import-or export-related veterinary services for which no flat rate user fee is specified.

(b) 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. Instead of paying the hourly rate user fee, you pay the rate found online at www.aphis.usda.gov/business-services/vs-fees for each employee needed to get the work done.

(a) Veterinary diagnostics. APHIS will not charge user fees for veterinary diagnostic services under the following conditions:

(1) When veterinary diagnostic services are provided in connection with Federal programs to control or eradicate diseases or pests of livestock or poultry in the United States (program diseases);

(2) When veterinary diagnostic services are provided in support of zoonotic disease surveillance when the Administrator has determined that there is a significant threat to human health; and

(3) When veterinary diagnostic reagents are distributed within the United States for testing for foreign animal diseases.

(b) [Reserved]

(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:

(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 TM and MasterCard TM) if payment is made at an Animal Import Center or an APHIS office that is equipped to process credit cards.

(a) Unpaid debt. If any person for whom the service is provided fails to pay when due any debt to APHIS, including any user fee due under 7 CFR chapter III or this chapter, then:

(1) Subsequent user fee payments. Payment must be made for subsequent user fees before the service is provided if:

(i) For unbilled fees, the user fee is unpaid 60 days after the date the pertinent regulatory provision indicates payment is due;

(ii) For billed fees, the user fee is unpaid 60 days after date of bill;

(iii) The person for whom the service is provided or the person requesting the service has not paid the late payment penalty or interest on any delinquent APHIS user fee; or

(iv) Payment has been dishonored.

(2) Resolution of difference between estimate and actual. APHIS will estimate the user fee to be paid; any difference between the estimate and the actual amount owed to APHIS will be resolved as soon as reasonably possible following the delivery of the service, with APHIS returning any excess to the payor or billing the payor for the additional amount due.

(3) Prepayment form. The prepayment must be in guaranteed form, such as money order, certified check, or cash. Prepayment in guaranteed form will continue until the debtor pays the delinquent debt.

(4) Denied service. Service will be denied until the debt is paid if:

(i) For unbilled fees, the user fee is unpaid 90 days after date the pertinent regulatory provision indicates payment is due; or

(ii) For billed fees, the user fee is unpaid 90 days after date of bill; or

(iii) The person for whom the service is provided or the person requesting the service has not paid the late payment penalty or interest on any delinquent APHIS user fee; or

(iv) Payment has been dishonored.

(b) Unpaid debt during service. If APHIS is in the process of providing a service for which an APHIS user fee is due, and the user has not paid the fee within the time required, or if the payment offered by the user is inadequate or unacceptable, then APHIS will take the following action:

(1) Animals or birds in quarantine. If an APHIS user fee is due for animals or birds in quarantine at an animal import center or at a privately operated import quarantine facility, APHIS will not release them.

(2) Export health certificate. If an APHIS user fee specified is due for an export health certificate, APHIS will not release the certificate.

(3) Veterinary diagnostics. If an APHIS user fee is due for a veterinary diagnostic test or service, APHIS will not release the test result, any endorsed certificate, or any other veterinary diagnostic service.

(c) Late payment penalty. In addition to the actions described in paragraph (b) of this section, APHIS will impose a late payment penalty and interest charges in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3717 for:

(1) Unbilled user fees. Unbilled user fees, if the user fees are unpaid 30 days after the date the pertinent regulatory provisions indicates payment is due; or

(2) Billed user fees. Billed user fees, if the user fees are unpaid 30 days after the date of the bill.

(d) Dishonored payment penalties. User fees paid with dishonored forms of payment, such as a check returned for insufficient funds, will be subject to interest and penalty charges in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3717. Administrative charges will be assessed at $20.00 per dishonored payment to be paid in addition to the original amount owed. Payment must be in guaranteed form, such as cash, money order, or certified check.

(e) Debt collection management. In accordance with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, the following provisions apply:

(1) Taxpayer identification number. APHIS will collect a taxpayer identification number from all persons, other than Federal agencies, who are liable for a user fee.

(2) Administrative offset. APHIS will notify the Department of Treasury of debts that are over 180 days delinquent for the purposes of administrative offset. Under administrative offset, the Department of Treasury will withhold funds payable by the United States to a person (i.e., Federal income tax refunds) to satisfy the debt to APHIS.

(3) Cross-servicing. APHIS will transfer debts that are over 180 days delinquent to the Department of Treasury for cross-servicing. Under cross-servicing, the Department of Treasury will collect debts on behalf of APHIS. Exceptions will be made for debts that meet certain requirements, for example, debts that are already at a collection agency or in payment plan.

(4) Report delinquent debt. APHIS will report all unpaid debts to credit reporting bureaus.

(f) Animals or birds abandoned after quarantine at an animal import center. Animals or birds left in quarantine at an animal import center for more than 30 days after the end of the required quarantine period will be deemed to be abandoned.

(1) Release of abandoned animals or birds from quarantine. After APHIS releases the abandoned animals or birds from quarantine, APHIS may seize them and sell or otherwise dispose of them, as determined by the Administrator, provided that their sale is not contrary to any Federal law or regulation. APHIS may recover all expenses of handling the animals or birds from the proceeds of their sale or disposition.

(2) Seizure and disposal of abandoned animals or bird. If animals or birds abandoned in quarantine at an animal import center cannot be released from quarantine, APHIS may seize and dispose of them, as determined by the Administrator, and may recover all expenses of handling the animals or birds from the proceeds of their disposition and from persons liable for user fees under § 130.6(a).