---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 253"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "253"
heading: "Public information"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/253"
units:
  - "Chapter 10 — Warehouses"
---

# §253. Public information

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/241.md?p=9) may release to the public the names, addresses, and locations of all [persons](/usc/7/241.md?p=7)—
  - (1) that have been licensed under this chapter or that have been approved to engage in an activity under this chapter; and
  - (2) with respect to which a license or [approval](/usc/7/241.md?p=2) has been suspended or revoked under [section 252 of this title](/usc/7/252.md), the results of any investigation made or hearing conducted under this chapter, including the reasons for the suspension or revocation.
- (b) **Confidentiality—** Except as otherwise provided by law, an officer, employee, or agent of the [Department](/usc/7/241.md?p=3) shall not divulge confidential business information obtained during a [warehouse](/usc/7/241.md?p=10) examination or other function performed as part of the duties of the officer, employee, or agent under this chapter.

## Source credit

(Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, § 14, as added Pub. L. 106–472, title II, § 201, Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2068.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 253, acts Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, § 12, 39 Stat. 487; Feb. 23, 1923, ch. 106, 42 Stat. 1283; Mar. 2, 1931, ch. 366, § 7, 46 Stat. 1464, related to suspension and revocation of license to classify, grade, or weigh, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 106–472. See section 252 of this title.

A prior section 14 of act Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, was classified to section 255 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 106–472.