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Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73

§8309 Veterinary accreditation program

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 109— - ANIMAL HEALTH PROTECTION › § 8309

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may create a veterinary accreditation program that follows this chapter and set rules of conduct for accredited veterinarians. The Secretary must talk with State animal health officials and veterinary professionals when making the program. The Secretary can suspend or revoke a veterinarian’s accreditation for violating the chapter after notice and a formal hearing. Those orders are final and can be reviewed under chapter 158 of title 28. The Secretary may immediately suspend a vet if there is reason to believe the vet knowingly broke the rules, but must later give notice and a prompt post-suspension hearing on the record. The criminal and civil penalties in section 8313 do not apply to a violation of this section unless it also breaks another part of the chapter.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §8309

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary may establish a veterinary accreditation program that is consistent with this chapter, including the establishment of standards of conduct for accredited veterinarians.
(b)The Secretary shall consult with State animal health officials and veterinary professionals regarding the establishment of the veterinary accreditation program.
(c)(1)The Secretary may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing on the record, suspend or revoke the accreditation of any veterinarian accredited under this title 11 See References in Text note below. who violates this chapter.
(2)The order of the Secretary suspending or revoking accreditation shall be treated as a final order reviewable under chapter 158 of title 28.
(3)(A)The Secretary may summarily suspend the accreditation of a veterinarian whom the Secretary has reason to believe knowingly violated this chapter.
(B)The Secretary shall provide the veterinarian with a subsequent notice and an opportunity for a prompt post-suspension hearing on the record.
(d)The criminal and civil penalties described in section 8313 of this title shall not apply to a violation of this section that is not a violation of any other provision of this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this subtitle”, meaning subtitle E (§§ 10401–10418) of title X of Pub. L. 107–171, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 494, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of subtitle E to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 8301 of this title and Tables. This title, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is title X of Pub. L. 107–171, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 486. For complete classification of title X to the Code, see 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. § 8309

Title 7 — Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73