Title 7 › CHAPTER 109 — ANIMAL HEALTH PROTECTION › § 8303
After telling the Secretary of the Treasury and giving public notice as soon as possible, the Secretary may stop or limit bringing animals, goods, vehicles, or using facilities if doing so is needed to stop pests or livestock diseases from entering or spreading in the United States. The Secretary can also stop the movement of animals that have wandered into the country and can block use of vehicles if they are not clean or do not safely carry animals. The Secretary may make rules to carry out these actions and can require imported animals to be kept under supervised quarantine after arrival to check for pests or disease. The Secretary can order the destruction or removal from the United States of animals, goods, or vehicles that were imported but not yet entered, items or animals brought in illegally, or stray animals when needed to prevent disease. The Secretary can require cleaning or disinfection of vehicles, people involved, and items used in importation. If an owner does not follow an order, the Secretary may act to fix the problem, destroy or remove the items or animals, and recover the costs from the owner.
Full Legal Text
Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 8303
Title 7, Agriculture
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110