USDA Seeks Comments on Dairy Import Licensing Program

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2013—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) today announced that it is seeking comments on the Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Program.

Import licensing is one of the tools USDA uses to administer the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) system for U.S. imports of dairy products. For dairy products subject to TRQs, an import license from FAS is generally required to bring in items at the low-tier tariff rate. Individuals must apply annually for a license from Sept. 1 to Oct. 15. 

Most of the basic features of the program regulations have not changed significantly since 1996. The program administrators request comments on all aspects of the program, such as ways to take advantage of new technologies and assure fair and competitive access to program benefits. 

Comments on the program must be received on or before March 7. The request for public comments is published in the Feb. 6, 2013, Federal Register: https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-02530.   

Comments may be submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov. Additionally, comments may be e-mailed to Abdelsalam.El-Farra@fas.usda.gov; faxed to (202) 720-0876; or mailed to Room 5526, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, STOP 1021, Washington, D.C. 20250-1021. Comments will be available for inspection between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.  

Persons with disabilities who require an alternative means for communication of information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

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