---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 209"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "209"
heading: "Liability to individuals for violations; enforcement generally"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/209"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Packers and Stockyards"
  - "Subchapter III — Stockyards and Stockyard Dealers"
---

# §209. Liability to individuals for violations; enforcement generally

- (a) If any [person](/usc/7/182.md?p=1) subject to this chapter violates any of the provisions of this chapter, or of any order of the [Secretary](/usc/7/182.md?p=2) under this chapter, relating to the purchase, sale, or handling of [livestock](/usc/7/182.md?p=4), the purchase or sale of [poultry](/usc/7/182.md?p=6), or relating to any [poultry growing arrangement](/usc/7/182.md?p=9) or [swine production contract](/usc/7/182.md?p=13), he shall be liable to the [person](/usc/7/182.md?p=1) or [persons](/usc/7/182.md?p=1) injured thereby for the full amount of damages sustained in consequence of such violation.
- (b) Such liability may be enforced either (1) by complaint to the [Secretary](/usc/7/182.md?p=2) as provided in [section 210 of this title](/usc/7/210.md), or (2) by suit in any district court of the United States of competent jurisdiction; but this section shall not in any way abridge or alter the remedies now existing at common law or by statute, but the provisions of this chapter are in addition to such remedies.

## Source credit

(Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 64, title III, § 308, 42 Stat. 165; Pub. L. 94–410, § 6, Sept. 13, 1976, 90 Stat. 1250; Pub. L. 100–173, § 5, Nov. 23, 1987, 101 Stat. 918; Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10502(b)(2)(B), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 510.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–171 inserted “or swine production contract” after “poultry growing arrangement”.

1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–173 inserted “the purchase or sale of poultry, or relating to any poultry growing arrangement,” after “livestock,”.

1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–410 struck out references to violations of specific sections and added packers to categories of regulated persons against whom private action could be brought for violation of chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–173 effective 90 days after Nov. 23, 1987, see section 12 of Pub. L. 100–173, set out as a note under section 182 of this title.