---
kind: "section"
citation: "21 U.S.C. § 384c"
title: "21"
title_heading: "Food and Drugs"
number: "384c"
heading: "Inspection of foreign food facilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/21/384c"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Imports and Exports"
---

# §384c. Inspection of foreign food facilities

- (a) **Inspection—** The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d)—
  - (1) may enter into arrangements and agreements with foreign governments to facilitate the inspection of foreign [facilities](/usc/21/364.md?p=3-A) registered under [section 350d of this title](/usc/21/350d.md); and
  - (2) shall direct resources to inspections of foreign [facilities](/usc/21/364.md?p=3-A), suppliers, and [food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) types, especially such [facilities](/usc/21/364.md?p=3-A), suppliers, and [food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) types that present a high risk (as identified by the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d)), to help ensure the safety and security of the [food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) supply of the United States.
- (b) **Effect of inability to inspect—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, [food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) shall be refused admission into the United States if it is from a foreign factory, warehouse, or other establishment of which the owner, operator, or agent in charge, or the government of the foreign country, refuses to permit entry of United States inspectors or other individuals duly designated by the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d), upon request, to inspect such factory, warehouse, or other establishment. For purposes of this subsection, such an owner, operator, or agent in charge shall be considered to have refused an inspection if such owner, operator, or agent in charge does not permit an inspection of a factory, warehouse, or other establishment during the 24-hour period after such request is submitted, or after such other time period, as agreed upon by the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) and the foreign factory, warehouse, or other establishment.

## Source credit

(June 25, 1938, ch. 675, § 807, as added Pub. L. 111–353, title III, § 306(a), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3958.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Construction

Nothing in this section to be construed to apply to certain alcohol-related facilities, to alter jurisdiction and authorities established under certain other Acts, or in a manner inconsistent with international agreements to which the United States is a party, see sections 2206, 2251, and 2252 of this title.