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

7 U.S.C. § 2149

Violations by licensees

(a)

Temporary license suspension; notice and hearing; revocation

section 2142 of this titleIf the Secretary has reason to believe that any person licensed as a dealer, exhibitor, or operator of an auction sale subject to , has violated or is violating any provision of this chapter, or any of the rules or regulations or standards promulgated by the Secretary hereunder, he may suspend such person’s license temporarily, but not to exceed 21 days, and after notice and opportunity for hearing, may suspend for such additional period as he may specify, or revoke such license, if such violation is determined to have occurred.

(b)

Civil penalties for violation of any section, etc.; separate offenses; notice and hearing; appeal; considerations in assessing penalty; compromise of penalty; civil action by Attorney General for failure to pay penalty; district court jurisdiction; failure to obey cease and desist order

section 2142 of this titleAny dealer, exhibitor, research facility, intermediate handler, carrier, or operator of an auction sale subject to , that violates any provision of this chapter, or any rule, regulation, or standard promulgated by the Secretary thereunder, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $10,000 for each such violation, and the Secretary may also make an order that such person shall cease and desist from continuing such violation. Each violation and each day during which a violation continues shall be a separate offense. No penalty shall be assessed or cease and desist order issued unless such person is given notice and opportunity for a hearing with respect to the alleged violation, and the order of the Secretary assessing a penalty and making a cease and desist order shall be final and conclusive unless the affected person files an appeal from the Secretary’s order with the appropriate United States Court of Appeals. The Secretary shall give due consideration to the appropriateness of the penalty with respect to the size of the business of the person involved, the gravity of the violation, the person’s good faith, and the history of previous violations. Any such civil penalty may be compromised by the Secretary. Upon any failure to pay the penalty assessed by a final order under this section, the Secretary shall request the Attorney General to institute a civil action in a district court of the United States or other United States court for any district in which such person is found or resides or transacts business, to collect the penalty, and such court shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide any such action. Any person who knowingly fails to obey a cease and desist order made by the Secretary under this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,500 for each offense, and each day during which such failure continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

(c)

Appeal of final order by aggrieved person; limitations; exclusive jurisdiction of United States Courts of Appeals

section 2142 of this titleAny dealer, exhibitor, research facility, intermediate handler, carrier, or operator of an auction sale subject to , aggrieved by a final order of the Secretary issued pursuant to this section may, within 60 days after entry of such an order, seek review of such order in the appropriate United States Court of Appeals in accordance with the provisions of sections 2341, 2343 through 2350 of title 28, and such court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to enjoin, set aside, suspend (in whole or in part), or to determine the validity of the Secretary’s order.

(d)

Criminal penalties for violation; initial prosecution brought before United States magistrate judges; conduct of prosecution by attorneys of United States Department of Agriculture

section 2142 of this titlesection 636 of title 28Any dealer, exhibitor, or operator of an auction sale subject to , who knowingly violates any provision of this chapter shall, on conviction thereof, be subject to imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or a fine of not more than $2,500, or both. Prosecution of such violations shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be brought initially before United States magistrate judges as provided in , and sections 3401 and 3402 of title 18, and, with the consent of the Attorney General, may be conducted, at both trial and upon appeal to district court, by attorneys of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Pub. L. 89–544, § 1980 Stat. 352Pub. L. 91–579, § 2084 Stat. 1564Pub. L. 94–279, § 1390 Stat. 420Pub. L. 99–198, title XVII, § 175599 Stat. 1650Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321104 Stat. 5117Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14214122 Stat. 1466Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664(, , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , title XIV, § 14214, , , 2228.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246 and made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by were repealed by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 110–246, § 14214Subsec. (b). , substituted “$10,000” for “$2,500”.

Pub. L. 99–198, § 1755(a)1985—Subsec. (b). , substituted “$2,500 for each such violation” for “$1,000 for each such violation” in first sentence and directed the substitution of “$1,500 for each offense” for “$500 for each offense” in sixth sentence, which was executed to the seventh sentence as the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 99–198, § 1755(b)Subsec. (d). , substituted “$2,500” for “$1,000”.

Pub. L. 94–2791976—Subsec. (a). substituted provisions covering violations by licensees, temporary license suspension, notice and hearing, and license revocation for provisions relating to violations by dealers, exhibitors, operators of auction sales, cease and desist orders, license suspension, and civil penalties.

Pub. L. 94–279Subsec. (b). substituted provisions covering civil penalties, notice and hearing, appeal, considerations in assessing penalties, compromising penalties, civil action by Attorney General for failure to pay penalty, district court jurisdiction, and failure to obey cease and desist orders for provisions relating to judicial review of final orders by the Secretary.

Pub. L. 94–279Subsec. (c). substituted provisions covering appeal of final orders by aggrieved persons, limitations, and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Courts of Appeals for provisions relating to criminal penalties.

Pub. L. 94–279Subsec. (d). added subsec. (d).

Pub. L. 91–5791970— added exhibitors and operators of auction sales to the enumeration of covered persons, added civil penalties for failure to obey a cease and desist order of the Secretary, and changed the procedure for judicial review.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650section 631 of Title 28“United States magistrate judges” substituted for “United States magistrates” in subsec. (d) pursuant to , set out as a note under , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of this titleAmendment of this section and repeal of by effective , the date of enactment of , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–198section 1759 of Pub. L. 99–198section 2131 of this titleAmendment by effective one year after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Pub. L. 91–579section 23 of Pub. L. 91–579section 2131 of this titleAmendment by effective 30 days after , see , set out as a note under .