---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 1636d"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "1636d"
heading: "Recordkeeping"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/1636d"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Distribution and Marketing of Agricultural Products"
  - "Subchapter II — Livestock Mandatory Reporting"
  - "Part E — Administration"
---

# §1636d. Recordkeeping

- (a) **In general—** Subject to [subsection (b)](#b), each [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5) required to report information to the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) under this subchapter shall maintain, and make available to the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) on request, for 2 years—
  - (1) the original contracts, agreements, receipts and other records associated with any transaction relating to the purchase, sale, pricing, transportation, delivery, weighing, slaughter, or carcass characteristics of all livestock; and
  - (2) such records or other information as is necessary or appropriate to verify the accuracy of the information required to be reported under this subchapter.
- (b) **Limitations—** Under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2), the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may not require a [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5) to provide new or additional information if—
  - (1) the information is not generally available or maintained by [packers](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5); or
  - (2) the provision of the information would be unduly burdensome.
- (c) **Purchases of cattle or swine—** A record of a purchase of a lot of cattle or a lot of [swine](/usc/7/1635i.md?p=21) by a [packer](/usc/7/1635d.md?p=5) shall evidence whether the purchase occurred—
  - (1) before 10:00 a.m. Central Time;
  - (2) between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Central Time; or
  - (3) after 2:00 p.m. Central Time.

## Source credit

(Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title II, § 255, as added Pub. L. 106–78, title IX, § 911(2), Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1203.)