---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2241a"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2241a"
heading: "Exchange or sale authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2241a"
units:
  - "Chapter 55 — Department of Agriculture"
---

# §2241a. Exchange or sale authority

- (a) **Definition of qualified item of personal property—** In this section, the term “qualified item of personal property” means—
  - (1) an animal;
  - (2) an animal product;
  - (3) a plant; or
  - (4) a plant product.
- (b) **General authority—** Except as provided in [subsection (c)](#c), notwithstanding [chapter 5](/usc/7/chch5.md) of subtitle I of [title 40](/usc/40.md), the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2), acting through the Under [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) for Research, Education, and Economics, in managing personal property for the purpose of carrying out the research functions of the Department, may exchange, sell, or otherwise dispose of any qualified item of personal property, including by way of public auction, and may retain and apply the sale or other proceeds, without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation, in whole or in partial payment—
  - (1) to acquire any qualified item of personal property; or
  - (2) to offset costs related to the maintenance, care, or feeding of any qualified item of personal property.
- (c) **Exception—** [Subsection (b)](#b) does not apply to the free dissemination of new varieties of seeds and germplasm in accordance with [section 2201 of this title](/usc/7/2201.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–354, title III, § 307, as added Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7408, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1252, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7408, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2013; amended Pub. L. 113–79, title VII, § 7605, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 912.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Amendments

2014—Pub. L. 113–79 made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 110–246, § 7408, which enacted this section.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Enactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.