---
kind: "section"
citation: "21 U.S.C. § 616"
title: "21"
title_heading: "Food and Drugs"
number: "616"
heading: "Inspectors of carcasses, etc., meat of which is intended for export; certificates of condition"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/21/616"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Meat Inspection"
  - "Subchapter I — Inspection Requirements; Adulteration and Misbranding"
---

# §616. Inspectors of carcasses, etc., meat of which is intended for export; certificates of condition


For the purpose of [section 615 of this title](/usc/21/615.md) the [Secretary](/usc/21/601.md?p=a) may appoint inspectors who shall be authorized to give an [official certificate](/usc/21/601.md?p=u) stating the condition in which said cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines, and the meat thereof, are found.


## Source credit

(Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, § 16, formerly 14th par., 34 Stat. 1263; renumbered § 16 and amended Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 1, 3(b), 12(a), Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 584, 588, 592.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 84 of this title.

### Amendments

1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 3(b), 12(a), struck out “of Agriculture” after “Secretary”, and included horses, mules, or other equines in the list of animals.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–201 effective Dec. 15, 1967, except that with respect to equines (other than horses) and their carcasses and parts thereof, meat, and meat food products thereof, amendment effective upon expiration of sixty days after Dec. 15, 1967, see section 20(b) of Pub. L. 90–201, set out as an Effective Date note under section 601 of this title.