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Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73

§1639a Applicability

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 38— - DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - NATIONAL BIOENGINEERED FOOD DISCLOSURE STANDARD › § 1639a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Applies when a food label or other disclosure says the food is bioengineered. The meaning of "bioengineering" in section 1639 does not change any other federal rules or programs. These rules cover foods that must follow labeling under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.). They also apply under the Meat, Poultry, or Egg Inspection Acts (21 U.S.C. 601; 451; 1031 et seq.) only if the most common ingredient would be covered by the FD&C Act, or if the main ingredient is broth/stock/water-like and the second ingredient would be covered.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §1639a

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)This subchapter shall apply to any claim in a disclosure that a food bears that indicates that the food is a bioengineered food.
(b)The definition of the term “bioengineering” under section 1639 of this title shall not affect any other definition, program, rule, or regulation of the Federal Government.
(c)This subchapter shall apply only to a food subject to—
(1)the labeling requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.); or
(2)the labeling requirements under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.), or the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.) only if—
(A)the most predominant ingredient of the food would independently be subject to the labeling requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.); or
(B)(i)the most predominant ingredient of the food is broth, stock, water, or a similar solution; and
(ii)the second-most predominant ingredient of the food would independently be subject to the labeling requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), (2)(A), (B)(ii), is act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, 52 Stat. 1040, which is classified generally to chapter 9 (§ 301 et seq.) of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 301 of Title 21 and Tables. The Federal Meat Inspection Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is titles I to IV of act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, as added Pub. L. 90–201, Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 584, which are classified generally to subchapters I to IV (§ 601 et seq.) of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 601 of Title 21 and Tables. The Poultry Products Inspection Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is Pub. L. 85–172, Aug. 28, 1957, 71 Stat. 441, which is classified generally to chapter 10 (§ 451 et seq.) of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 451 of Title 21 and Tables. The Egg Products Inspection Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is Pub. L. 91–597, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1620, which is classified principally to chapter 15 (§ 1031 et seq.) of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1031 of Title 21 and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 1639a

Title 7 — Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73