Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 110— - ENHANCING CONTROLS ON DANGEROUS BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND TOXINS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE › § 8401
Creates and keeps a list of biological agents and toxins that could seriously harm animal or plant health, or their products. The Secretary of Agriculture must use science and advice from other federal experts to decide what goes on the list. The list must be reviewed and republished every two years or more often if needed. The Secretary must write rules that cover safe handling, training, proper labs, security to stop theft or terrorist use, steps to take if rules are broken, and ways to keep agents available for research. People and places that have, use, or move listed items must register with the Secretary. Registrations go into a national database with names, locations, and identifying details about the agents when available. Registered entities must give names of people who need access and update that information at least once every five years. The Attorney General will check those people in criminal, immigration, and national security databases to find restricted or suspicious individuals. The Secretary can inspect registered places, deny access, require reviews, and impose civil fines up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for others. If a listed agent is lost, stolen, or released outside containment, the registered person must notify the Secretary right away; the Secretary will tell other authorities and HHS when needed. The Secretary may grant limited exemptions for certain labs, approved products, investigational products (decisions within 14 days after a complete request), or for emergency response (up to 30 days, with one 30-day extension). Certain registration and security records are protected from public release. The Secretary must report to Congress each year on thefts, losses, and releases. Definitions: “biological agent” and “toxin” use the meanings in 18 U.S.C. 178; “listed agents and toxins” are those on the Secretary’s list; “overlap agents” are those also listed under 42 U.S.C. 262a(a)(1); “person” includes federal, state, and local governments; “registered person” means someone registered under the rules; “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture. Funds: appropriations of such sums as may be necessary were authorized for fiscal years 2002 through 2007.
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Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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Reference
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 8401
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73