Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73
§1639 Definitions
Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 38— - DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - NATIONAL BIOENGINEERED FOOD DISCLOSURE STANDARD › § 1639
Summary
Defines three terms used here. "Bioengineering" means a food whose genetic material was changed by lab DNA methods done outside living cells, and that change could not be achieved by ordinary breeding or found in nature. "Food" means a food (as defined in section 321 of title 21) meant for people to eat. "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §1639
Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In this subchapter:
(1)The term “bioengineering”, and any similar term, as determined by the Secretary, with respect to a food, refers to a food—
(A)that contains genetic material that has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) techniques; and
(B)for which the modification could not otherwise be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature.
(2)The term “food” means a food (as defined in section 321 of title 21) that is intended for human consumption.
(3)The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 1639
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73