---
kind: "section"
citation: "21 U.S.C. § 141"
title: "21"
title_heading: "Food and Drugs"
number: "141"
heading: "Prohibition of importation without permit"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/21/141"
units:
  - "Chapter 4 — Animals, Meats, and Meat and Dairy Products"
  - "Subchapter IV — Importation of Milk and Cream"
---

# §141. Prohibition of importation without permit


On and after May 16, 1927, the importation into the [United States](/usc/21/149.md?p=b) of milk and cream is prohibited unless the [person](/usc/21/149.md?p=a) by whom such milk or cream is shipped or transported into the [United States](/usc/21/149.md?p=b) holds a valid permit from the Secretary of Health and Human Services.


## Source credit

(Feb. 15, 1927, ch. 155, § 1, 44 Stat. 1101; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. IV, § 12, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2421, 54 Stat. 1237; 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 1, § 5, eff. Apr. 11, 1953, 18 F.R. 2053, 67 Stat. 631; Pub. L. 96–88, title V, § 509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

### Short Title

Act July 12, 1943, ch. 221, title II, 57 Stat. 499, provided in part that act Feb. 15, 1927, which is classified to this subchapter, may be cited as “Import Milk Act”.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of Federal Security Administrator to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare [now Health and Human Services], and of Food and Drug Administration to Federal Security Agency, see notes set out under section 321 of this title.