US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

21 U.S.C. § 609

Examination of animals and food products thereof, slaughtered and prepared during nighttime

The Secretary shall cause an examination and inspection of all amenable species, and the food products thereof, slaughtered and prepared in the establishments hereinbefore described for the purposes of commerce to be made during the nighttime as well as during the daytime when the slaughtering of said amenable species, or the preparation of said food products is conducted during the nighttime.

Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 290734 Stat. 1262Pub. L. 90–20181 Stat. 584Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, § 403(d)(1)100 Stat. 3570Pub. L. 109–97, title VII, § 798[(a)]119 Stat. 2166(, title I, § 9, formerly 7th par., ; renumbered § 9 and amended , §§ 1, 3, 12(a), , , 588, 592; , , ; (1), , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

section 77 of this titleSection was formerly classified to .

Amendments

Pub. L. 109–972005— substituted “amenable species” for “cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines” in two places.

Pub. L. 99–641section 606 of this title1986— temporarily inserted “, except as provided in ,” after first reference to “other equines, and”. See Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 90–2011967—, §§ 3, 12(a), struck out “interstate or foreign” before “commerce” and “of Agriculture” after “Secretary” and included horses, mules, and other equines in the list of animals, respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2005 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–97section 798(b) of Pub. L. 109–97section 601 of this titleAmendment by effective the day after 120 days after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, § 403(d)(1)100 Stat. 3570, , , provided that the amendment made by that section is effective only during the 6-year period beginning .

Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, § 408100 Stat. 3571

“(a)

General Effective Date .—

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this title and the amendments made by this title [amending this section and sections 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title] shall become effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [].
“(b)

Temporary Application of Existing Law .—

21 U.S.C. 606section 606 of this titleSections 6, 9, and 21 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (, 609, and 621), as in effect immediately before the date of the enactment of this Act [], shall apply with respect to establishments until the Secretary of Agriculture first issues rules and regulations to implement the amendments made by section 403(a) [amending ].”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–201section 20(b) of Pub. L. 90–201section 601 of this titleAmendment by effective , except that with respect to equines (other than horses) and their carcasses and parts thereof, meat, and meat food products thereof, amendment effective upon expiration of sixty days after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Savings Provision

Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, § 404100 Stat. 3571

21 U.S.C. 601“The expiration date provisions of section 403 [enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title] shall not have the effect of releasing or extinguishing any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the Federal Meat Inspection Act ( et seq.), as amended by section 403 [amending this section and sections 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title], or under the rules or regulations issued under such Act.”
, , , provided that:

Inspection Services for Establishments Not Participating in Total Plant Quality-Control Program

Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, § 403(e)100 Stat. 3570

21 U.S.C. 601“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title] shall not be construed to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to refuse to provide inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act ( et seq.) at an establishment solely because such establishment does not participate in a total plant quality-control program.”
, , , provided that: