Title 7AgricultureRelease 119-73

§2371 Plant variety protection fees

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 57— - PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION OFFICE › Part Part C— - Plant Variety Protection Fees › § 2371

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must set and collect reasonable fees for services under this chapter, using rules the Secretary creates. If someone does not pay, the Secretary will add a late fee and charge interest as required by section 3717 of title 31. Fees, late fees, and interest go back to the account that paid the costs and stay available without fiscal year limit to pay the Secretary’s expenses under this chapter. The Secretary can invest these funds in insured or fully backed interest-bearing accounts, or the Secretary of the Treasury can buy U.S. Government debt instruments. The Attorney General may sue to recover unpaid charges in any U.S. district or territorial court where the person is found, lives, or does business. Congress may appropriate whatever sums are needed to carry out this chapter.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §2371

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall, under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, charge and collect reasonable fees for services performed under this chapter.
(b)On failure to pay such fees, the Secretary shall assess a late payment penalty. Such overdue fees shall accrue interest as required by section 3717 of title 31.
(c)Such fees, late payment penalties, and accrued interest collected shall be credited to the account that incurs the cost and shall remain available without fiscal year limitation to pay the expenses incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this chapter. Such funds collected (including late payment penalties and any interest earned) may be invested by the Secretary in insured or fully collateralized, interest-bearing accounts or, at the discretion of the Secretary, by the Secretary of the Treasury in United States Government debt instruments.
(d)The Attorney General may bring an action for the recovery of charges that have not been paid in accordance with this chapter against any person obligated for payment of such charges under this chapter in any United States district court or other United States court for any territory or possession in any jurisdiction in which the person is found, resides, or transacts business. The court shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide the action.
(e)There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1987—Pub. L. 100–203 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The Secretary shall, under such

Regulations

as he may prescribe, charge and collect reasonable fees for services performed under this chapter. Such fees shall be deposited into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such funds as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.” 1980—Pub. L. 96–574 substituted provisions relating to deposit of fees and authorization of appropriations for provisions relating to recovering of fees, initial capital of the fund, and charging of fees.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 2371

Title 7Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73