Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110
§86 Refusal of Inspection and Weighing Services; Civil Penalties
Title 7 › CHAPTER 3 — GRAIN STANDARDS › § 86
Summary
The Secretary can refuse to provide official inspection or weighing services for any grain owned in whole or in part by a person if the Secretary finds that the person, or someone closely connected to their business, knowingly broke section 87b or was convicted of other federal offenses about handling, weighing, or inspecting grain, or if services were already refused for a still-active cause. The Secretary may refuse services for as long as needed, including forever, if giving the service would hurt the honesty or trust in the inspection system. A person is “responsibly connected” if they are a partner, officer, director, an owner of 10 percent or more of voting stock, or a managerial/executive employee. The Secretary can also fine a person up to $75,000 for each such violation, either instead of or in addition to other penalties or service refusal. Before refusing services or imposing a fine, the person must be given a chance for a hearing under sections 554, 556, and 557 of title 5. The Secretary may temporarily stop services without a prior hearing if there is reason and it’s needed to protect the system, but must provide a hearing within seven days and handle it quickly. Collected fines go to the U.S. Treasury general fund, and unpaid fines can be collected by a lawsuit brought by the Attorney General in the proper court.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §86
Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Grounds for refusal of services
The Secretary may (for such period, or indefinitely, as the Secretary deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter) refuse to provide official inspection or the services related to weighing otherwise available under this chapter with respect to any grain offered for such services, or owned, wholly or in part, by any person if the Secretary determines (1) that the individual (or in case such person is a partnership, any general partner; or in case such person is a corporation, any officer, director, or holder or owner of more than 10 per centum of the voting stock; or in case such person is an unincorporated association or other business entity, any officer or director thereof; or in case of any such business entity, any individual who is otherwise responsibly connected with the business) has knowingly committed any violation of section 87b of this title, or has been convicted of any violation of other Federal law with respect to the handling, weighing, or official inspection of grain, or that official inspection or the services related to weighing have been refused for any of the above-specified causes (for a period which has not expired) to such person, or any other person conducting a business with which the former was, at the time such cause existed, or is responsibly connected; and (2) that providing such service with respect to such grain would be inimical to the integrity of the service.
(b)Persons responsibly connected with a business
For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, a person shall be deemed to be responsibly connected with a business if the person was or is a partner, officer, director, or holder or owner of 10 per centum or more of its voting stock, or an employee in a managerial or executive capacity.
(c)Civil penalties
In addition to, or in lieu of, penalties provided under section 87c of this title, or in addition to, or in lieu of, refusal of official inspection or services related to weighing in accordance with this section, the Secretary may assess against any person who has knowingly committed any violation of section 87b of this title or has been convicted of any violation of other Federal law with respect to the handling, weighing, or official inspection of grain a civil penalty not to exceed $75,000 for each such violation as the Secretary determines is appropriate to effectuate the objectives stated in section 74 of this title.
(d)Opportunity for hearing; temporary refusal without hearing pending final determination
Before official inspection or services related to weighing is refused to any person or a civil penalty is assessed against any person under this section, such person shall be afforded opportunity for a hearing in accordance with section 554, 556, and 557 of title 5: Provided, That the Secretary may, without first affording the person a hearing, refuse official inspection or services related to weighing temporarily pending final determination whenever the Secretary has reason to believe there is cause for refusal of inspection or services related to weighing and considered such action to be in the best interest of the official inspection system under this chapter. The Secretary shall afford such person an opportunity for a hearing within seven days after temporarily refusing official inspection or services related to weighing; and such hearing and ancillary procedures related thereto shall be conducted in an expedited manner.
(e)Collection and disposition of civil penalties
Moneys received in payment of such civil penalties shall be deposited in the general fund of the United States Treasury. Upon any failure to pay the penalties assessed under this section, the Secretary may request the Attorney General of the United States to institute a civil action to collect the penalties in the appropriate court identified in subsection (h) of section 87f of this title for the jurisdiction in which the respondent is found or resides or transacts business, and such court shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide any such action.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Subsecs. (a), (c) to (e). Pub. L. 103–354 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing. 1993—Pub. L. 103–156, § 12(i), which directed amendment of “section 10”, without specifying the name of the Act being amended, was executed to this section, which is section 10 of the United States Grain Standards Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–156, § 12(i)(1), substituted “the Administrator” for “he” in two places. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–156, § 12(i)(2), substituted “the person” for “he”. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–582 substituted “Administrator” for “Secretary”, “grain offered for such services” for “grain offered for inspection”, “has knowingly committed any violation of section 87b of this title or has been convicted of any violation of other Federal law with respect to the handling, weighing, or official inspection of grain, or that official inspection or the services related to weighing have been refused” for “has been convicted of any violation of section 87b of this title, or that official inspection has been refused”, and “integrity of the service” for “integrity of the official inspection service”, and authorized refusal of provision of services relating to weighing. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–582 added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–582 redesignated provisions of former subsec. (c) as (d), inserted “or services related to weighing” before “is refused”, inserted “or a civil penalty is assessed against any person under this section” after “to any person”, provided for the hearing under section 554, 556, and 557 of title 5, and inserted provisions relating to temporary refusal without hearing pending final determination. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 94–582 added subsec. (e). 1968—Pub. L. 90–487 substituted provisions authorizing the Secretary to refuse official inspection and affording an opportunity for a hearing in such a case, for provisions setting the penalty for interference with the execution of official duties.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–582 effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1976, see section 27 of Pub. L. 94–582, as amended, set out as a note under section 74 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1968 AmendmentFor
Effective Date
of amendment by Pub. L. 90–487, see section 2 of Pub. L. 90–487, set out as a note under section 78 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 86
Title 7, Agriculture
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110