---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 182"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "182"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/182"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Packers and Stockyards"
  - "Subchapter I — General Definitions"
---

# §182. Definitions


When used in this chapter—

- (1) The term “person” includes individuals, partnerships, corporations, and associations;
- (2) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture;
- (3) The term “meat food products” means all products and byproducts of the slaughtering and meat-packing industry—if edible;
- (4) The term “livestock” means cattle, sheep, [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6), horses, mules, or goats—whether live or dead;
- (5) The term “livestock products” means all products and byproducts (other than meats and [meat food products](#3)) of the slaughtering and meat-packing industry derived in whole or in part from [livestock](#4);
- (6) The term “poultry” means chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and other domestic fowl;
- (7) The term “poultry product” means any product or byproduct of the business of slaughtering [poultry](#6) and processing [poultry](#6) after slaughter;
- (8) The term “poultry grower” means any [person](#1) engaged in the business of raising and caring for live [poultry](#6) for slaughter by another, whether the [poultry](#6) is owned by such [person](#1) or by another, but not an employee of the owner of such [poultry](#6);
- (9) The term “poultry growing arrangement” means any growout contract, marketing agreement, or other arrangement under which a [poultry grower](#8) raises and cares for live [poultry](#6) for delivery, in accord with another’s instructions, for slaughter;
- (10) The term “live poultry dealer” means any [person](#1) engaged in the business of obtaining live [poultry](#6) by purchase or under a [poultry growing arrangement](#9) for the purpose of either slaughtering it or selling it for slaughter by another, if [poultry](#6) is obtained by such [person](#1) in [commerce](#11), or if [poultry](#6) obtained by such [person](#1) is sold or shipped in [commerce](#11), or if [poultry products](#7) from [poultry](#6) obtained by such [person](#1) are sold or shipped in [commerce](#11); and
- (11) The term “commerce” means commerce between any [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), Territory, or possession, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof; or between points within the same [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), Territory, or possession, or the District of Columbia, but through any place outside thereof; or within any Territory or possession, or the District of Columbia.
- (12) **Swine contractor.—** The term “swine contractor” means any [person](#1) engaged in the business of obtaining [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) under a [swine production contract](#13) for the purpose of slaughtering the [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) or selling the [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) for slaughter, if—
  - (A) the [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) is obtained by the [person](#1) in [commerce](#11); or
  - (B) the [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) (including products from the [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6)) obtained by the [person](#1) is sold or shipped in [commerce](#11).
- (13) **Swine production contract.—** The term “swine production contract” means any growout contract or other arrangement under which a [swine production contract grower](#14) raises and cares for the [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) in accordance with the instructions of another [person](#1).
- (14) **Swine production contract grower.—** The term “swine production contract grower” means any [person](#1) engaged in the business of raising and caring for [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) in accordance with the instructions of another [person](#1).

## Source credit

(Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 64, title I, § 2(a), 42 Stat. 159; Pub. L. 94–410, § 3(c), Sept. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 1249; Pub. L. 100–173, § 2, Nov. 23, 1987, 101 Stat. 917; Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10502(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 509.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section is composed of subsec. (a) of section 2 of act Aug. 15, 1921. Subsec. (b) of section 2 is classified to section 183 of this title.

### Amendments

2002—Pars. (12) to (14). Pub. L. 107–171 added pars. (12) to (14).

1987—Pars. (6) to (11). Pub. L. 100–173 added pars. (6) to (10) and redesignated former par. (6) as (11).

1976—Pars. (4), (5). Pub. L. 94–410 substituted “livestock” for “live stock” in par. (4) and for “live-stock” in par. (5).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–173, § 12, Nov. 23, 1987, 101 Stat. 923, provided that: “This Act and the amendments made by this Act [enacting sections 197 and 228b–1 to 228b–4 of this title, amending this section and sections 192, 209, 221, 223, 227, and 228a of this title, repealing sections 218 to 218d of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 181 and 227 of this title] shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 23, 1987].”

### Savings Provision

Pub. L. 94–410, § 10, Sept. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 1252, provided that: “Pending proceedings shall not be abated by reason of any provision of this Act [enacting sections 196 and 228a to 228c of this title and amending this section and sections 183, 191 to 193, 201, 204, 207, 209, 210, 212, 213, 228, and 229 of this title], but shall be disposed of pursuant to the provisions of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended [this chapter], and the Act of July 12, 1943 [section 204 of this title], in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this Act [Sept. 13, 1976].”