Fee Increase Proposed For Egg, Poultry, Rabbit Grading

July 19,1999

USDA is proposing to increase service fees for certain grading for eggs, poultry and rabbits. Current fees have been in effect since Oct. 1, 1998.

The proposal would increase the basic hourly rate for resident service (a grader's work on a regular tour of duty at a plant) from the current $27.64 to $28.80. The basic hourly rate for fee service (work on an intermittent, as-needed basis) would be increased from $44.80 to $48.80 for regular hours and from $51.60 to $55.76 for weekend and holiday work.

In addition, for plants using resident services, the administrative fee for USDA supervision and for other overhead expenses would increase form 4 cents to 4.4 cents per case of shell eggs and from .034 cents to .035 cents per pound of poultry.

For poultry and eggs, the minimum administrative fee per monthly billing period would remain at $225, but the maximum fee would increase from $2,500 to $2,625. The minimum administrative fee for grading rabbits would increase from $250 to $260 per monthly billing period.

The proposal was published in the July 14 Federal Register.