The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced a final rule to increase user fees for its Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) program to bolster protection against invasive pests and diseases affecting U.S. farms and forests. The largest increase affects commercial cargo vessels, with fees rising from $825 to $2,903.73 starting from October 1, 2024.