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Title 21 — Food and DrugsRelease 119-73

§1049 Seizure and condemnation proceedings

Title 21 › Chapter CHAPTER 15— - EGG PRODUCTS INSPECTION › § 1049

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Eggs or egg products that are handled, sold, moved, or kept in ways that break the egg rules can be taken by the government. Restricted eggs that can be eaten but are held by someone not allowed to have them may be seized at any time after a complaint is filed in a U.S. district court or another proper court. If the court declares the items condemned, it can order them destroyed or sold. If sold, the money, after paying court costs and storage, goes to the U.S. Treasury. The court will not allow sales that break federal or local food or labeling laws. A court may return the items to the owner if the owner gives a strong bond and follows the rules under government supervision. If the items are returned under bond or destroyed, the claimant may have to pay the costs. These cases are brought in the name of the United States, follow admiralty-type rules as far as possible, and either side can ask for a jury trial on factual questions. This section does not take away other seizure powers under the law.

Full Legal Text

Title 21, §1049

Food and Drugs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any eggs or egg products that are or have been processed, bought, sold, possessed, used, transported, or offered or received for sale or transportation, in violation of this chapter, or in any other way are in violation of this chapter; and any restricted eggs, capable of use as human food, in the possession of any person not authorized to acquire such eggs under the regulations of the Secretary shall be liable to be proceeded against and seized and condemned, at any time, on a complaint in any United States district court or other proper court as provided in section 1050 of this title within the jurisdiction of which the articles are found. If the articles are condemned they shall, after entry of the decree, be disposed of by destruction or sale as the court may direct and the proceeds, if sold, less the court costs and fees, and storage and other proper expenses, shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States, but the articles shall not be sold contrary to the provision of this chapter, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.] or the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act [15 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.], or the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are sold: Provided, That upon the execution and delivery of a good and sufficient bond conditioned that the articles shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of contrary to the provisions of this chapter, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, or the laws of the jurisdiction in which disposal is made, the court may direct that they be delivered to the owner thereof subject to such supervision by authorized representatives of the Secretary as is necessary to insure compliance with the applicable laws. When a decree of condemnation is entered against the articles and they are released under bond, or destroyed, court costs and fees, and storage and other proper expenses shall be awarded against the person, if any, intervening as claimant thereof. The proceedings in such cases shall conform, as nearly as may be, to the supplemental rules for certain admiralty and maritime claims, except that either party may demand trial by jury of any issue of fact joined in any case, and all such proceedings shall be at the suit of and in the name of the United States.
(b)The provisions of this section shall in no way derogate from authority for condemnation or seizure conferred by other provisions of this chapter, or other laws.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 91–597, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1620, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1031 of this title and Tables. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, 52 Stat. 1040, which is classified generally to chapter 9 (§ 301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 301 of this title and Tables. The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 89–755, Nov. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 1296, which is classified generally to chapter 39 (§ 1451 et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1451 of Title 15 and Tables. The supplemental rules for certain admiralty and maritime claims, referred to in subsec. (a), were renamed the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions and are set out as part of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

For

Effective Date

of this section, see section 29 of Pub. L. 91–597, set out as a note under section 1031 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

21 U.S.C. § 1049

Title 21 — Food and Drugs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73