Royal Fumigation coordinates with industry on new USDA proposals
Royal Fumigation coordinates with industry on new USDA proposals
NEW CASTLE, DE — Joining the regional port community — and the nation’s fruit importers — with concern about pending U.S. Department of Agriculture procedural changes is Royal Fumigation, based here.
Anne Bookout, Royal’s vice president and general counsel, said the two matters of concern are an increase in USDA inspection overtime fees and a $375 fee for fumigations.
Bookout said the fumigation procedure is to simplify the safety process by working at night, when the fewest people are around a facility to minimize risks. The new catch is that USDA is increasing its overtime charge by 40 percent. Night work is considered overtime. Still, Bookout said, “Overtime fees have not increased for 10 years, so you can’t argue because we have not had it changed for so long.”
Bookout said the port community “is most up in arms” about a proposed new treatment fee. The crux of that matter is a lack of a definition of a treatment. The USDA extended its comment period on these matters until July 24.
Bookout said Royal has worked with the National Pest Management Association coalition to address the fees.
The two fee increases will hit the industry with increased expenses. This is especially the case on the East Coast, which performs the nighttime fumigations.
Royal and the Port of Wilmington
The Port of Wilmington, DE, is a major receiver of Chilean fruit.
Working under a “Team Wilmington” banner, the port involves key entities, including Royal Fumigation, that coordinate services to best-accommodate customers.
After each Chilean fruit season, Team Wilmington has a roundtable meeting with customers handling Chilean fruit as a matter of good communication toward service quality assurance. “Our folks are dedicated to the team approach. It works really nicely,” Bookout said.
