Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich

WASHINGTON, January 31, 2005 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today issued a notice announcing that it will not provide reimbursable services to establishments that have delinquent accounts and will pursue the collection of debts owed to it for such services.

FSIS charges fees for voluntary reimbursable inspection, certification and identification services provided to establishments, warehouses and importers and exporters of meat, poultry and egg products. FSIS is authorized to recover the cost of providing these services.

Under the new policy, FSIS will send dated "dunning notices" to all individuals and establishments that have outstanding balances. If FSIS does not receive full payment within 30 days then a second notice will be sent with a certified letter. This letter will indicate that if payment in full is not received within 14 days then FSIS will not provide any further services for that individual, warehouse or establishment until the unsettled debt is paid including any interest, penalty and assessed administrative charges. FSIS will eventually transfer the delinquent debt to the U.S. Department of Treasury for further action.

For further information on the new delinquent payments policy, contact Teresa Ramsey, Branch Chief, Financial and Accounting Branch, Office of Management, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 5601 Sunnyside Ave, Mail Drop 5262, Beltsville, MD, 20705, at (301) 504-5885.