---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 1639"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "1639"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/1639"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Distribution and Marketing of Agricultural Products"
  - "Subchapter V — National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard"
---

# §1639. Definitions


In this subchapter:

- (1) **Bioengineering—** The term “bioengineering”, and any similar term, as determined by the [Secretary](#3), with respect to a [food](#2), refers to a [food](#2)—
  - (A) that contains genetic material that has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) techniques; and
  - (B) for which the modification could not otherwise be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature.
- (2) **Food—** The term “food” means a food (as defined in [section 321 of title 21](/usc/21/321.md)) that is intended for human consumption.
- (3) **Secretary—** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.

## Source credit

(Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title II, § 291, as added Pub. L. 114–216, § 1, July 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 834.)