---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2141"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2141"
heading: "Marking and identification of animals"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2141"
units:
  - "Chapter 54 — Transportation, Sale, and Handling of Certain Animals"
---

# §2141. Marking and identification of animals


All [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) delivered for transportation, transported, purchased, or sold, in [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c), by a [dealer](/usc/7/2132.md?p=f) or [exhibitor](/usc/7/2132.md?p=h) shall be marked or identified at such time and in such humane manner as the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) may prescribe: Provided, That only live dogs and cats need be so marked or identified by a [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–544, § 11, Aug. 24, 1966, 80 Stat. 351; Pub. L. 91–579, § 12, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1562; Pub. L. 94–279, § 5, Apr. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 418.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–279 substituted “in commerce” for “affecting commerce”.

1970—Pub. L. 91–579 applied marking and identification requirements to dealers and exhibitors for animals, as defined, instead of only to dogs and cats when movements are affecting commerce, but limited such requirements for research facilities to only live dogs and cats.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–579 effective one year after Dec. 24, 1970, see section 23 of Pub. L. 91–579, set out as a note under section 2131 of this title.