Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73
§1639i Federal preemption
Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 38— - DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VI— - LABELING OF CERTAIN FOOD › § 1639i
Summary
States and localities can't, directly or indirectly, make or keep rules labeling food (including restaurant food) or seed in interstate commerce as genetically engineered or made with genetic engineering, including similar terms the Secretary of Agriculture defines. "Food" is defined in section 321 of title 21.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §1639i
Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In this subchapter, the term “food” has the meaning given the term in section 321 of title 21.
(b)No State or a political subdivision of a State may directly or indirectly establish under any authority or continue in effect as to any food or seed in interstate commerce any requirement relating to the labeling of whether a food (including food served in a restaurant or similar establishment) or seed is genetically engineered (which shall include such other similar terms as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture) or was developed or produced using genetic engineering, including any requirement for claims that a food or seed is or contains an ingredient that was developed or produced using genetic engineering.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 1639i
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73