Enforcement — Us Code Code § 1638b

Us Code Code § 1638b — Enforcement. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 1638b. Enforcement

(a) Warnings

If the Secretary determines that a retailer or person engaged in the business of supplying a covered commodity to a retailer is in violation of section 1638a of this title, the Secretary shall—

(1) notify the retailer 1 of the determination of the Secretary; and

(2) provide the retailer 1 a 30-day period, beginning on the date on which the retailer 1 receives the notice under paragraph (1) from the Secretary, during which the retailer 1 may take necessary steps to comply with section 1638a of this title.

(b) Fines

If, on completion of the 30-day period described in subsection (a)(2), the Secretary determines that the retailer or person engaged in the business of supplying a covered commodity to a retailer has—

(1) not made a good faith effort to comply with section 1638a of this title, and

(2) continues to willfully violate section 1638a of this title with respect to the violation about which the retailer or person received notification under subsection (a)(1),


after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing before the Secretary with respect to the violation, the Secretary may fine the retailer or person in an amount of not more than $1,000 for each violation.

(Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title II, §283, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title X, §10816, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 535; amended Pub. L. 110–234, title XI, §11002(3), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1354; Pub. L. 110–246, §4(a), title XI, §11002(3), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2116.)


Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–246, §11002(3), redesignated subsec. (b) as (a) and substituted "retailer or person engaged in the business of supplying a covered commodity to a retailer" for "retailer" in introductory provisions, added subsec. (b), and struck out former subsecs. (a) and (c) which related to applicability of section 1636b of this title to a violation of this subchapter and fine for violation of section 1638a of this title. The substitution in subsec. (a) was made for "retailer" the first time appearing to reflect the probable intent of Congress.


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.

1 So in original. Probably should be "retailer or person".

About This Section

7 U.S.C. § 1638b is part of Title 7 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 7 U.S.C. § 1638b. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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