| Title: | MUSHROOM FEE-CORRECTION |
|---|---|
| Date: | 1996-01-31 |
| To: | abi |
| Links: | previous, next |
TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.
FROM : STUART B ZZ-KISSANE
SUBJECT : MUSHROOM FEE-CORRECTION
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 SPECIALIS
BROKERS AND THE IMPORTING 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 /POUND OR $ .005512 /KILOGRAM
TO $ .0045 /POUND OR $ .009921 /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 FOR FRESH
MUSHROOM ENTERED OR WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE ON OR AFTER
FEBRUARY 1, 1996, THE ASSESMENT WILL BE AT THE HIGHER RATE.
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