Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§7420 Investigations and Power to Subpoena

Title 7 › CHAPTER 101 — AGRICULTURAL PROMOTION › SUBCHAPTER II — ISSUANCE OF ORDERS FOR PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ACTIVITIES REGARDING AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES › § 7420

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may carry out investigations needed to enforce this subchapter or to find out if someone has broken or is about to break its rules. To do that, the Secretary can put people under oath, issue subpoenas to make witnesses come, collect evidence, and require relevant records or documents from anywhere in the United States. If a person ignores a subpoena, the Secretary can ask a U.S. court where the investigation is happening or where the person lives or works to force them to testify or turn over records. If the court orders someone to comply and they still refuse, the court can punish them for contempt. Papers can be served where the person lives, works, or is found.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §7420

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Investigations

The Secretary may make such investigations as the Secretary considers necessary—

(1)for the effective administration of this subchapter; or

(2)to determine whether any person subject to this subchapter has engaged, or is about to engage, in any action that constitutes or will constitute a violation of this subchapter or any order or regulation issued under this subchapter.

(b)Subpoenas, oaths, and affirmations

For the purpose of any investigation under subsection (a), the Secretary may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel the attendance of witnesses, take evidence, and require the production of any records or documents that are relevant to the inquiry. The attendance of witnesses and the production of records or documents may be required from any place in the United States.

(c)Aid of courts

In the case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the Secretary may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which the investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where the person resides or carries on business, in order to require the attendance and testimony of the person or the production of records or documents. The court may issue an order requiring the person to appear before the Secretary to produce records or documents or to give testimony regarding the matter under investigation.

(d)Contempt

Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of the court.

(e)Process

Process in any case under this section may be served in the judicial district in which the person resides or carries on business or wherever the person may be found.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 7420

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110