7 USC 138f – Fees
(a) In general
At the time that an application for accreditation is received by the Secretary and annually thereafter, a laboratory seeking accreditation by the Secretary under the authority of this chapter, the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) shall pay to the Secretary a nonrefundable accreditation fee. All fees collected by the Secretary shall be credited to the account from which the expenses of the laboratory accreditation program are paid and, subject to subsection (e), shall be available immediately and remain available until expended to pay the expenses of the laboratory accreditation program.
(b) Amount of fee
Terms Used In 7 USC 138f
- Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
- laboratory: means any facility or vehicle that is owned by an individual or a public or private entity and is equipped and operated for the purpose of carrying out pesticide residue analysis on agricultural products for commercial purposes. See 7 USC 138
- Secretary: means the Secretary of Agriculture. See 7 USC 138
The fee required under this section shall be established by the Secretary in an amount that will offset the cost of the laboratory accreditation programs administered by the Secretary under the statutory authorities set forth in subsection (a).
(c) Reimbursement of expenses
Each laboratory that is accredited under a statutory authority set forth in subsection (a) or that has applied for accreditation under such authority shall reimburse the Secretary for reasonable travel and other expenses necessary to perform onsite inspections of the laboratory.
(d) Adjustment of fees
The Secretary may, on an annual basis, adjust the fees imposed under this section as necessary to support the full costs of the laboratory accreditation programs carried out under the statutory authorities set forth in subsection (a).
(e) Appropriations prerequisite
No fees collected under this section may be used to offset the cost of laboratory accreditation without appropriations made under subsection (f).
(f) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for laboratory accreditation services under this section.