--- kind: "section" citation: "7 U.S.C. § 250" title: "7" title_heading: "Agriculture" number: "250" heading: "Warehouse receipts" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/250" units: - "Chapter 10 — Warehouses" --- # §250. Warehouse receipts - (a) **In general—** At the request of the depositor of an [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) stored or handled in a [warehouse](/usc/7/241.md?p=10) licensed under this chapter, the [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11) shall issue a [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) to the depositor as prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/7/241.md?p=9). - (b) **Actual storage required—** A [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) may not be issued under this section for an [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) unless the [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) is actually stored in the [warehouse](/usc/7/241.md?p=10) at the time of the issuance of the [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8). - (c) **Contents—** Each [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) issued for an [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) stored or handled in a [warehouse](/usc/7/241.md?p=10) licensed under this chapter shall contain such information, for each [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) covered by the [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8), as the [Secretary](/usc/7/241.md?p=9) may require by regulation. - (d) **Prohibition on additional receipts or other documents—** - (1) **Receipts—** While a [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) issued under this chapter is outstanding and uncanceled by the [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11), an additional [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) may not be issued for the same [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) (or any portion of the same [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1)) represented by the outstanding [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8), except as authorized by the [Secretary](/usc/7/241.md?p=9). - (2) **Other documents—** If a document is transferred under this section, no duplicate document in any form may be transferred by any [person](/usc/7/241.md?p=7) with respect to the same [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) represented by the document, except as authorized by the [Secretary](/usc/7/241.md?p=9). - (e) **Electronic receipts and electronic documents—** Except as provided in [section 242(h)(2) of this title](/usc/7/242.md?p=h-2), notwithstanding any other provision of Federal or [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) law: - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/241.md?p=9) may promulgate regulations that authorize the issuance, recording, and transfer of [electronic receipts](/usc/7/241.md?p=5), and the transfer of other [electronic documents](/usc/7/241.md?p=4), in accordance with this subsection. - (2) **Electronic receipt or electronic document systems—** [Electronic receipts](/usc/7/241.md?p=5) may be issued, recorded, and transferred, and [electronic documents](/usc/7/241.md?p=4) may be transferred, under this subsection with respect to an [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) under, a system or systems maintained in one or more locations and approved by the [Secretary](/usc/7/241.md?p=9) in accordance with regulations issued under this chapter. - (3) **Treatment of holder—** Any [person](/usc/7/241.md?p=7) designated as the [holder](/usc/7/241.md?p=6) of an [electronic receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=5) or other [electronic document](/usc/7/241.md?p=4) issued or transferred under this chapter shall, for the purpose of perfecting the [security](/usc/7/24.md?p=b) interest of the [person](/usc/7/241.md?p=7) under Federal or [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) law and for all other purposes, be considered to be in possession of the [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) or other [electronic document](/usc/7/241.md?p=4). - (4) **Nondiscrimination—** An [electronic receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=5) issued, or other [electronic document](/usc/7/241.md?p=4) transferred, in accordance with this chapter shall not be denied legal effect, validity, or enforceability on the ground that the information is generated, sent, received, or stored by electronic or similar means. - (5) **Security interests—** If more than one [security](/usc/7/24.md?p=b) interest exists in the [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) that is the subject of an [electronic receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=5) or other [electronic document](/usc/7/241.md?p=4) under this chapter, the priority of the [security](/usc/7/24.md?p=b) interest shall be determined by the applicable Federal or [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) law. - (6) **No electronic receipt required—** A [person](/usc/7/241.md?p=7) shall not be required to issue in electronic form a [receipt](/usc/7/241.md?p=8) or document with respect to an [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1). - (7) **Option for non-federally licensed warehouse operators—** Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11) not licensed under this chapter may, at the option of the [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11) and in accordance with regulations established by the [Secretary](/usc/7/241.md?p=9), issue [electronic receipts](/usc/7/241.md?p=5) and transfer other [electronic documents](/usc/7/241.md?p=4) in accordance with this chapter. - (8) **Application to State-licensed warehouse operators—** This subsection shall not apply to a [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11) that is licensed under [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) law to store agricultural commodities in a [warehouse](/usc/7/241.md?p=10) in the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) if the [warehouse operator](/usc/7/241.md?p=11) elects— - (A) not to issue [electronic receipts](/usc/7/241.md?p=5) authorized under this subsection; or - (B) to issue [electronic receipts](/usc/7/241.md?p=5) authorized under [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) law. ## Source credit (Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, § 11, as added Pub. L. 106–472, title II, § 201, Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2065.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Prior Provisions A prior section 250, acts Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, § 8, 39 Stat. 487; Mar. 2, 1931, ch. 366, § 3, 46 Stat. 1463, authorized designation as bonded warehouse upon filing of bond and approval by Secretary, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 106–472. A prior section 11 of act Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, was classified to section 252 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 106–472.