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Title 21 — Food and DrugsRelease 119-73

§337 Proceedings in name of United States; provision as to subpoenas

Title 21 › Chapter CHAPTER 9— - FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES › § 337

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Most court cases to enforce or stop violations of this law are filed by the United States. In those cases, a federal court can issue subpoenas that require witnesses to appear in any federal district, even if the witness is in a different district. A State can bring its own civil case in the State’s name about certain food rules (section 341 and parts of section 343: b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, q, r) if the food is inside that State. The State must notify the Secretary first and wait 30 days. If the Secretary starts enforcing within those 30 days, the State must wait 90 days. The State may not sue if the Secretary is already actively prosecuting the same food in court or has settled the case or enforcement action.

Full Legal Text

Title 21, §337

Food and Drugs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except as provided in subsection (b), all such proceedings for the enforcement, or to restrain violations, of this chapter shall be by and in the name of the United States. Subpoenas for witnesses who are required to attend a court of the United States, in any district, may run into any other district in any proceeding under this section.
(b)(1)A State may bring in its own name and within its jurisdiction proceedings for the civil enforcement, or to restrain violations, of section 341, 343(b), 343(c), 343(d), 343(e), 343(f), 343(g), 343(h), 343(i), 343(k), 343(q), or 343(r) of this title if the food that is the subject of the proceedings is located in the State.
(2)No proceeding may be commenced by a State under paragraph (1)—
(A)before 30 days after the State has given notice to the Secretary that the State intends to bring such proceeding,
(B)before 90 days after the State has given notice to the Secretary of such intent if the Secretary has, within such 30 days, commenced an informal or formal enforcement action pertaining to the food which would be the subject of such proceeding, or
(C)if the Secretary is diligently prosecuting a proceeding in court pertaining to such food, has settled such proceeding, or has settled the informal or formal enforcement action pertaining to such food.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1990—Pub. L. 101–535 substituted “(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), all” for “All” and “any proceeding under this section” for “any such proceeding” and added subsec. (b). 1954—Act Sept. 3, 1954, struck out reference to section 654 of title 28.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–535 effective 24 months after Nov. 8, 1990, except that such amendment effective Dec. 31, 1993, with respect to dietary supplements of vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other similar nutritional substances, see section 10(a)(1)(C) of Pub. L. 101–535, set out as a note under section 343 of this title.

Construction

of

Amendments

by Pub. L. 101–535

Amendments

by Pub. L. 101–535 not to be construed to alter authority of Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Agriculture under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.), see section 9 of Pub. L. 101–535, set out as a note under section 343 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

21 U.S.C. § 337

Title 21 — Food and Drugs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73