Introduction of new fees in accordance with user pays policy

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A decision made 1 March 2010 regarding: Introduction of new fees in accordance with user pays policy.

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2010-0023
Decision Summary Title		User Pays Introduction of Fees		Date of Decision Summary:	04/02/10
Decision Summary Author :		States Veterinary Officer		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?		Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title:		Introduction of fees for issue of animal health export certificates and associated certification by States staff		Date of Written Report:	04/02/10
Written Report Author		States Veterinary Officer		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Introduction of new fees in accordance with User Pays policy
Decision(s): To lodge “au Greffe” the report and proposition to introduce fees for issue of export health certificates for animals and animals products and for inspection and certification by States staff.
Reason(s) for Decision: The Minister agreed the introduction of fees detailed in the report as they accord with the user pays concept.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: To request the Greffier of the States to lodge “au Greffe” the report and proposition.
Signature:			Position:
Date Signed:			Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):
Version:	V

Introduction of new fees in accordance with user pays policy

PROPOSITION

Introduction of fees for issue of animal health export certificates and associated certification by States staff

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion -

(a) In accordance with User Pays principle, new charges are introduced for issuing export health certificates and movement documents for export of animals and animal products and for professional services in connection with export certification, carried out by the States Veterinary Officer and Inspectors

MINISTER FOR PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

REPORT

On 5 May 2009 the Minister for Planning and Environment made a Decision,
MD-PE-2009-90, proposing introduction of new cost recovery charges for issue of export health certificates and shellfish movement documents and for inspection or examination of animals and animal products.

Official documents and inspections are required for international trade. The necessary documents are issued by the Department and depending on the animal species or product, are completed by the States Veterinary Officer, private veterinary surgeons or Inspectors. Introduction of charges accords with States policy of User Pays where a section of the community receives a valuable service from the States which is subsidised by taxpayers generally.

To minimise the risk of disease transmission and in the case of live animals, ensure welfare is not compromised, international animal and animal product movements are commonly subject to veterinary health certification in the country of origin. In the case of fish and shellfish, inspection to produce the required certificate is carried out by authorised Inspectors.

Export Certificates may be legally required and are official documents issued by government as the competent authority, and completed by the inspecting veterinary surgeon or Inspector to enable trade or movement to take place. There is currently no charge for issue of the certificates or required inspections and certification, which sometimes requires working outside normal hours and subsequently overtime payment to States staff.

In the case of dogs and cats, Export Health Certificates are issued by the States to the exporter’s private veterinary surgeon for the necessary inspection and certification. Exporters are liable for their private veterinary surgeon’s fee. Export Health certification of other species is carried out by the States Veterinary Officer or Inspector. No charge is made to exporters for examination or inspection of animals and animal products and certification for export by Department staff

In 2008 the numbers of export health certificates issued and numbers of consignments inspected are as follows:

Species	Certificates issued to private vets	Animals inspected and certified by States Veterinary Officer	Consignments inspected and certified by Department Inspectors
Dogs and cats	12
Shellfish			80
Horses		5
Cattle		37 consignments comprising 600 individuals
Pet birds		5
Other e.g. Conservation species at Durrell Wildlife, fish, goats, sheep.		1	1

Issue of export health certificates for dogs and cats may be time consuming, particularly when the importing country’s conditions have to be established and the exporter and their veterinary surgeon advised. The Certificate and any associated documents are then prepared and issued to the nominated private veterinary surgeon who carries out the necessary work, paid for by the client. Dogs and cats to be exported to European Member States are accompanied by a Passport issued by the veterinary practice. Passports are official documents issued by the Department at no cost. No cost for issue of European Pet Passports is proposed at this time.

It is proposed to introduce a standard fee of £40 for issue of 3rd country export health certificates which do not require inspection of animals or animal products by States staff. The fee is based on average time to process applications and dispatch the documents to private vets.

It is proposed to introduce a standard fee of £20 for issue of required intra-community trade, UK, Bailiwick of Guernsey and Isle of Man health certificates. Inspection by States staff will incur an additional charge. The fee is based on average time to process applications, dispatch documents and notify the receiving jurisdiction. When a health certificate is not required and only notification between competent authorities is necessary e.g. oyster exports for relaying, no charge will be made.

Exports require preparation of the certificate followed by clinical inspection of the animal(s) or product(s) and completion of the certificate. Inspection and certification frequently takes place at the premises of origin from which they will be exported,. Time taken, including travelling, to carry out the procedure varies from approximately 40 minutes to 2 hours.

It is proposed inspections and certification by State Veterinary Officer are charged at £27.53 per 20 minutes, or part thereof, to include travelling and office time.

It is proposed inspections and certification of shellfish and fish by an Inspector are charged at £14 per 20 minutes, or part thereof, to include travelling and office time.

The charges are based on civil servant charge out rates for the appropriate grades, and proposed in 20 minute blocks. Some inspections take less than 20 minutes, therefore, it is reasonable to charge in this way rather than for 1 hour minimum.

Fees will be liable whenever an inspection visit is made, whether a certificate can be signed or not e.g. animal not presented, animal or product does not meet certification requirement. The difference in charging regimes reflects the grade of staff member carrying out inspection.

Exporters may opt to employ an authorised private veterinary surgeon to carry out the necessary inspection and certification for terrestrial species.

Financial and Resource Implications.

Based on the number of export health certificates issued and inspections carried out in 2008 and considering a significant EU legislative change which has decreased the requirement for shellfish inspections, the projected first year income is £2,000.

There are no financial or staffing implications for the States as the work is already carried out. Income will vary as it is influenced by economic and trading conditions and whether exporters choose to use a private veterinary surgeon to carry out certification.

Examples of additional cost for the private sector are £47.53 to export a pet bird to a European Member State (not UK for which no certification is required) £100 to export a horse to Europe (no certification is required for movement to UK) and £100 to export a small consignment of cattle.

Summary of charges

Service	Fee
Issue of Export Health Certificate for animal or product to EU Member State, UK, Guernsey or Isle of Man	£20
Issue of Export Health Certificate for animal or product to Third Country	£40
Inspection and certification by States Veterinary Officer including travel and office time	£27.53 per 20 minutes or part thereof
Inspection by Department Inspector including travel and office time	£14 per 20 minutes or part thereof

10/02/10

States Veterinary Officer