AMS Proposed Changes to Imported Fee Assessments for Christmas Trees
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is proposing a number of amendments to its promotion order on Christmas trees, one of which enables importers to request refunds of assessments paid on trees that were shipped to the U.S. but not sold.
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AMS is accepting comments on these changes through July 14, according to a Federal Register notice released June 12.
The changes include clarifying who's responsible for paying the assessments on trees shipped to the U.S. but not sold. If the fees aren't collected by CBP at the border, they should be paid directly to the board by Feb. 15 of the crop year in which they're imported. Also, importers who import fewer than 500 trees annually would receive a refund from the Real Christmas Tree Board for the collected assessments.
"Some importers have faced an issue in which their retailer will pay only for the trees sold. The Board would like to give these importers and other importers who may face this problem in the future opportunity for a refund on trees that are imported into the United States but not sold," AMS said. "This option is already available to producers as they can report and pay assessments only on the trees which they were paid for as opposed to importers who pay assessments on each tree imported, regardless of its ultimate disposition."
Other proposed changes include amending the board's name from “Christmas Tree Promotion Board” to “Real Christmas Tree Board," increasing the administrative expenses cap from 10% to 15%, and increasing the mandatory period to maintain books and records.