News Releases and other News Material/Number 01194/0001
Program Announcements-
Release No. 0001.94
Bruce Merkle (202) 720-8206
USDA SEEKS COMMENTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF TOBACCO IMPORTER ASSESSMENTS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation is seeking public comment on regulations implementing importer assessments on tobacco.
The marketing assessments are required by amendments to the Omnibus Budget Reconcilation Act of 1993 and will begin on January 1, 1994. They will be imposed on all imported unmanufactured tobacco. There will also be a no-net-cost assessment on all imported unmanufactured burley and flue-cured tobacco.
The marketing assessment rate will be 1.63 cents per pound on all imported unmanufactured tobacco. The no-net-cost assessment rates are 2.817 cents per pound for imported burley tobacco and 2.423 cents per pound for imported flue-cured tobacco. The assessment rates will change on July 1 and October 1 of each year.
An interim rule was published in the Federal Register on December 23, 1993. Comments must be received by January 24, 1994, to be assured of consideration and should be sent to Director, Tobacco/Peanuts Division, USDA/ASCS, Box 2415, Washington, D.C. 20013. Comments will be available for public inspection in Room 5750 of USDA's South Building during normal business hours.
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