US Code

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

7 U.S.C. § 8901

Definitions

In this chapter:
(1)

Agent

The term “agent” means a nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological substance that causes agricultural disease or the adulteration of products regulated by the Secretary of Agriculture under any provision of law.

(2)

Agricultural biosecurity

The term “agricultural biosecurity” means protection from an agent that poses a threat to—
(A)
plant or animal health;
(B)
public health as it relates to the adulteration of products regulated by the Secretary of Agriculture under any provision of law that is caused by exposure to an agent; or
(C)
the environment as it relates to agriculture facilities, farmland, and air and water within the immediate vicinity of an area associated with an agricultural disease or outbreak.
(3)

Agricultural countermeasure

The term “agricultural countermeasure”—
(A)
means a product, practice, or technology that is intended to enhance or maintain the agricultural biosecurity of the United States; and
(B)
does not include a product, practice, or technology used solely in response to a human medical incident or public health emergency not related to agriculture.
(4)

Agricultural disease

The term “agricultural disease” has the meaning given the term by the Secretary.

(5)

Agricultural disease emergency

The term “agricultural disease emergency” means an incident of agricultural disease that requires prompt action to prevent significant damage to people, plants, or animals.

(6)

Agroterrorist act

The term “agroterrorist act” means an act that—
(A)
causes or attempts to cause—
(i)
damage to agriculture; or
(ii)
injury to a person associated with agriculture; and
(B)
is committed or appears to be committed with the intent to—
(i)
intimidate or coerce a civilian population; or
(ii)
disrupt the agricultural industry in order to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion.
(7)

Animal

section 8302 of this titleThe term “animal” has the meaning given the term in .

(8)

Department

The term “Department” means the Department of Agriculture.

(9)

Development

The term “development” means—
(A)
research leading to the identification of products or technologies intended for use as agricultural countermeasures to protect animal health;
(B)
the formulation, production, and subsequent modification of those products or technologies;
(C)
the conduct of in vitro and in vivo studies;
(D)
the conduct of field, efficacy, and safety studies;
(E)
the preparation of an application for marketing approval for submission to an applicable agency; or
(F)
other actions taken by an applicable agency in a case in which an agricultural countermeasure is procured or used prior to issuance of a license or other form of Federal Government approval.
(10)

Plant

section 7702 of this titleThe term “plant” has the meaning given the term in .

(11)

Qualified agricultural countermeasure

The term “qualified agricultural countermeasure” means an agricultural countermeasure that the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, determines to be a priority in order to address an agricultural biosecurity threat.

Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14102122 Stat. 1453Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664(, , ; , title XIV, § 14102, , , 2215.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246 and enacted identical sections. was repealed by .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

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

Short Title

Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14101122 Stat. 1453Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664

Pub. L. 110–246“This subtitle [subtitle B (§§ 14101–14122) of title XIV of , enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Agricultural Security Improvement Act of 2008’.”
, , , and , title XIV, § 14101, , , 2215, provided that:

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of this title[ and enacted identical provisions. was repealed by , set out as a note under .]

Definition of “Secretary”

section 8701 of this title“Secretary” as meaning the Secretary of Agriculture, see .