Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73not60
§251 Conditions for Delivery of Agricultural Products
Title 7 › Chapter 10— WAREHOUSES › § 251
Summary
A warehouse operator must give back stored farm products without unnecessary delay when the person holding the receipt asks for them, or when the person who deposited the product asks and no receipt was issued, unless there is a lawful reason not to. Before handing over the goods, the operator can require payment of storage charges and satisfaction of any warehouse lien. The person asking must return the receipt in the way the Secretary requires. The operator must cancel each returned receipt when the product is delivered.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §251
Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In the absence of a lawful excuse, a warehouse operator shall, without unnecessary delay, deliver the agricultural product stored or handled in the warehouse on a demand made by—
(1)the holder of the receipt for the agricultural product; or
(2)the person that deposited the product, if no receipt has been issued.
(b)Prior to delivery of the agricultural product, payment of the accrued charges associated with the storage of the agricultural product, including satisfaction of the warehouseman’s lien, shall be made if requested by the warehouse operator.
(c)When the holder of a receipt requests delivery of an agricultural product covered by the receipt, the holder shall surrender the receipt to the warehouse operator, in the manner prescribed by the Secretary, to obtain the agricultural product.
(d)A warehouse operator shall cancel each receipt returned to the warehouse operator upon the delivery of the agricultural product for which the receipt was issued.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 251, acts Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, § 10, 39 Stat. 487; Mar. 2, 1931, ch. 366, § 5, 46 Stat. 1464; Pub. L. 97–35, title I, § 158(a)(1), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 375, authorized fee for warehouse examination, inspection, and licensing, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 106–472. See section 243 of this title. A prior section 12 of act Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, was classified to section 253 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 106–472.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 251
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60