---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 254"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "254"
heading: "Penalties for noncompliance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/254"
units:
  - "Chapter 10 — Warehouses"
---

# §254. Penalties for noncompliance


If a [person](/usc/7/241.md?p=7) fails to comply with any requirement of this chapter (including regulations promulgated under this chapter), the [Secretary](/usc/7/241.md?p=9) may assess, on the record after an opportunity for a hearing, a civil penalty—

- (1) of not more than $25,000 per violation, if an [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) is not involved in the violation; or
- (2) of not more than 100 percent of the value of the [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1), if an [agricultural product](/usc/7/241.md?p=1) is involved in the violation.

## Source credit

(Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, § 15, as added Pub. L. 106–472, title II, § 201, Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2068.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 254, act Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, § 13, 39 Stat. 488, prohibited discrimination by warehousemen, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 106–472. See section 247 of this title.

A prior section 15 of act Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, was classified to section 256 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 106–472.