---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 223"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "223"
heading: "Responsibility of principal for act or omission of agent"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/223"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Packers and Stockyards"
  - "Subchapter V — General Provisions"
---

# §223. Responsibility of principal for act or omission of agent


When construing and enforcing the provisions of this chapter, the act, omission, or failure of any agent, officer, or other [person](/usc/7/182.md?p=1) acting for or employed by any [packer](/usc/7/198.md?p=2), any [swine contractor](/usc/7/182.md?p=12), and any [live poultry dealer](/usc/7/182.md?p=10), [stockyard owner](/usc/7/201.md?p=a), [market agency](/usc/7/201.md?p=c), or [dealer](/usc/7/201.md?p=d), within the scope of his [employment](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-10) or office, shall in every case also be deemed the act, omission, or failure of such [packer](/usc/7/198.md?p=2), any [swine contractor](/usc/7/182.md?p=12), and any [live poultry dealer](/usc/7/182.md?p=10), [stockyard owner](/usc/7/201.md?p=a), [market agency](/usc/7/201.md?p=c), or [dealer](/usc/7/201.md?p=d), as well as that of such agent, officer, or other [person](/usc/7/182.md?p=1).


## Source credit

(Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 64, title IV, § 403, 42 Stat. 168; Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 64, title V, § 503, as added Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 532, 49 Stat. 649; amended Pub. L. 100–173, § 6, Nov. 23, 1987, 101 Stat. 918; Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10502(b)(2)(C), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 510.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002—Pub. L. 107–171 inserted “any swine contractor, and” after “packer,” in two places.

1987—Pub. L. 100–173 substituted “, any live poultry dealer,” for “or any live poultry dealer or handler,” in two places.

1935—Act Aug. 15, 1921, title V, § 503, as added Aug. 14, 1935, inserted “or any live poultry dealer or handler” after “packer” wherever appearing.

### 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.