CSMS Message: 96-000072

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.

FROM : STUART B ZZ-KISSANE

SUBJECT : MUSHROOM FEE

DATE : 01/30/96

DATE: JANUARY 30, 1996

FILE: FO:TC:C:E:O MM

TO : ALL PORT DIRECTORS

FROM : DIRECTOR
TRADE COMPLIANCE

SUBJECT: CHANGE IN RATE ASSESSED FOR FRESH MUSHROOMS

PASS TO: ENTRY OFFICERS, ENTRY SPECIALISTS, IMPORT SPEC
COMMUNITY

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 1996, THE RATE OF ASSESSMENT COLLECTED BY
THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE ON FRESH IMPORTED MUSHROOMS WILL BE
INCREASED FROM .0025 CENTS PER POUND OR .5512 CENTS PER KILOGRAM
TO .0045 CENTS PER POUND OR .9921 CENTS PER KILOGRAM. UNDER THE
HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE, FRESH MUSHROOMS ARE CLASSIFIED AS
0709.51.0000. COLLECTION PROCESSING PROGRAMMING IN THE AUTOMATED
COMMERCIAL SYSTEM (ACS) HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THEREFORE, ALL FRESH
MUSHROOMS ENTERED OR WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE ON OR AFTER
FEBRUARY 1, 1996, WILL BE ASSESSED AT THE INCREASED FEE.

BACKGROUND:

IN MARCH 1993, CUSTOMS AND THE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
(AMS) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) ENTERED INTO A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) UNDER WHICH CUSTOMS COLLECTS
AND TRANSMITS ASSESSMENT FEES TO THE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING
SERVICE (AMS) ON IMPORTED FRESH MUSHROOMS. THE MUSHROOM
PROMOTION, RESEARCH AND CONSUMER INFORMATION ACT OF 1990 PROVIDES
THE AUTHORITY FOR THE MUSHROOM COUNCIL, WITH THE SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE'S CONCURRENCE, TO INCREASE THE RATE OF ASSESSMENT IN
SPECIFIED INCREMENTS. A PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT WAS ISSUED ON
DECEMBER 26, 1995, BY USDA, NOTIFYING THE INDUSTRY OF THIS CHANGE
IN ASSESSMENT RATE.
- 2 -

ANY POLICY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS NOTICE SHOULD BE FORWARDED
DIRECTLY TO MR. RICHARD SCHULTZ, RESEARCH AND PROMOTION BRANCH,
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE DIVISION, AMS AT (202) 720-5976. ANY
COLLECTION QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO ENTRY, TRADE
COMPLIANCE AT (202) 927-0380. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS APPRECIATED.

PHILIP METZGER