Title 21Food and DrugsRelease 119-73

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

Title 21 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - MEAT INSPECTION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS; ADULTERATION AND MISBRANDING › § 609

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must inspect covered animals and their food products both at night and during the day when slaughter occurs at night.

Full Legal Text

Title 21, §609

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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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 77 of this title.

Amendments

2005—Pub. L. 109–97 substituted “amenable species” for “cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines” in two places. 1986—Pub. L. 99–641 temporarily inserted “, except as provided in section 606 of this title,” after first reference to “other equines, and”. See Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendment note below. 1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 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 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 109–97 effective the day after 120 days after Nov. 10, 2005, see section 798(b) of Pub. L. 109–97, set out as a note under section 601 of this title. Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendment Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, § 403(d)(1), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3570, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective only during the 6-year period beginning Nov. 10, 1986. Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, § 408, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3571, provided that: “(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 section 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title] shall become effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1986]. “(b) Temporary Application of Existing Law.—section 6, 9, and 21 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 606, 609, and 621), as in effect immediately before the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1986], 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 section 606 of this title].”

Effective Date

of 1967 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 90–201 effective Dec. 15, 1967, 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 Dec. 15, 1967, see section 20(b) of Pub. L. 90–201, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 601 of this title.

Savings Provision

Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, § 404, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3571, provided that: “The expiration date provisions of section 403 [enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 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 (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), as amended by section 403 [amending this section and section 606, 621, 671, and 676 of this title], or under the rules or

Regulations

issued under such Act.” Inspection Services for Establishments Not Participating in Total Plant Quality-Control Program Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, § 403(e), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3570, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section and section 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 (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) at an establishment solely because such establishment does not participate in a total plant quality-control program.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

21 U.S.C. § 609

Title 21Food and Drugs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73