Title 7AgricultureRelease 119-73

§7735 Enforcement actions of Attorney General

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 104— - PLANT PROTECTION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT › § 7735

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General can take three main actions under this chapter: prosecute criminal violations, sue to stop or force compliance, and sue to collect money owed. The Attorney General may prosecute crimes in federal court when the Secretary refers them or when anyone reports them. He or she may sue to stop violations or to stop people from interfering with the Secretary if the Secretary thinks a violation or interference is happening or about to happen. The Attorney General may also sue to recover unpaid civil penalties, money under reimbursable agreements, late payment penalties, and interest assessed under this chapter.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §7735

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Attorney General may—
(1)prosecute, in the name of the United States, all criminal violations of this chapter that are referred to the Attorney General by the Secretary or are brought to the notice of the Attorney General by any person;
(2)bring an action to enjoin the violation of or to compel compliance with this chapter, or to enjoin any interference by any person with the Secretary in carrying out this chapter, whenever the Secretary has reason to believe that the person has violated, or is about to violate this chapter, or has interfered, or is about to interfere, with the Secretary; and
(3)bring an action for the recovery of any unpaid civil penalty, funds under reimbursable agreements, late payment penalty, or interest assessed under this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning title IV of Pub. L. 106–224, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 438, known as the Plant Protection Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title IV to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 7701 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to agricultural import and entry inspection activities under this chapter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 231, 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 7735

Title 7Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73