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Title 21, Food and DrugsRelease 119-110

§676 Violations

Title 21 › CHAPTER 12 — MEAT INSPECTION › SUBCHAPTER IV — AUXILIARY PROVISIONS › § 676

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

People or companies who break a rule in this chapter that has no other criminal penalty can be jailed for up to 1 year, fined up to $1,000, or both. If the break was done to defraud someone, or if it involves giving out or trying to give out an adulterated item (except as defined in section 601(m)(8) of this title), the jail time can be up to 3 years and the fine can be up to $10,000, or both. If someone just received an item or animal to carry for someone else in good faith, they won’t be punished unless they refuse to give the name and address of who gave it to them and copies of any delivery papers when a representative of the Secretary asks. For minor violations, the Secretary does not have to bring criminal charges or start court actions. A written warning can be used instead if that properly protects the public interest.

Full Legal Text

Title 21, §676

Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Misdemeanors; felonies: intent to defraud and distribution of adulterated articles; good faith
Any person, firm, or corporation who violates any provision of this chapter for which no other criminal penalty is provided by this chapter shall upon conviction be subject to imprisonment for not more than one year, or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both such imprisonment and fine; but if such violation involves intent to defraud, or any distribution or attempted distribution of an article that is adulterated (except as defined in section 601(m)(8) of this title), such person, firm, or corporation shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both: Provided, That no person, firm, or corporation, shall be subject to penalties under this section for receiving for transportation any article or animal in violation of this chapter if such receipt was made in good faith, unless such person, firm, or corporation refuses to furnish on request of a representative of the Secretary the name and address of the person from whom he received such article or animal, and copies of all documents, if any there be, pertaining to the delivery of the article or animal to him.
(b)Minor violations; written notice of warning of criminal and civil proceedings
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the Secretary to report for prosecution or for the institution of libel or injunction proceedings, minor violations of this chapter whenever he believes that the public interest will be adequately served by a suitable written notice of warning.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–641, § 403(c)(1), temporarily inserted provisions which related to factors required to be considered by Secretary in determining whether public interest is served by written notice of warning. See Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendment note below. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–641, § 403(c)(2), temporarily added subsec. (c). See Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendment note below.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendment Pub. L. 99–641, title IV, § 403(c), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3570, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective only during the 6-year period beginning Nov. 10, 1986.

Construction

and Effect of

Amendments

by Pub. L. 99–641For provisions relating to

Construction

and effect of temporary

Amendments

by section 403 of Pub. L. 99–641, see section 403(e) and 404 of Pub. L. 99–641, set out as notes entitled “Inspection Services for Establishments Not Participating in Total Plant Quality-Control Program” and “

Savings Provision

”, respectively, under section 609 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

21 U.S.C. § 676

Title 21, Food and Drugs

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110