---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4610a"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4610a"
heading: "Investigations and power to subpoena"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4610a"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information"
---

# §4610a. Investigations and power to subpoena

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) may make such investigations as the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) determines necessary—
  - (1) for the effective administration of this chapter; or
  - (2) to determine whether a [person](/usc/7/4602.md?p=15) has engaged or is engaging in any act or practice that constitutes a violation of any provision of this chapter, or of any order, rule, or regulation issued under this chapter.
- (b) **Power to subpoena—**
  - (1) **Investigations—** For the purpose of an investigation made under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) is authorized to administer oaths and affirmations and to issue a subpoena to require the production of any records that are relevant to the inquiry. The production of any such records may be required from any place in the United States.
  - (2) **Administrative hearings—** For the purpose of an administrative hearing held under section [4609](/usc/7/4609.md) or [4610](/usc/7/4610.md) of this title, the presiding officer is authorized to administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any records that are relevant to the inquiry. Such attendance of witnesses and the production of any such records may be required from any place in the United States.
- (c) **Aid of courts—** In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any [person](/usc/7/4602.md?p=15), the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which such investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where such [person](/usc/7/4602.md?p=15) resides or carries on business, in order to enforce a subpoena issued by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) under [subsection (b)](#b). The court may issue an order requiring such [person](/usc/7/4602.md?p=15) to comply with such a subpoena.
- (d) **Contempt—** Any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.
- (e) **Process—** Process in any such case may be served in the judicial district in which such [person](/usc/7/4602.md?p=15) resides or conducts business or wherever such [person](/usc/7/4602.md?p=15) may be found.
- (f) **Hearing site—** The site of any hearings held under section [4609](/usc/7/4609.md) or [4610](/usc/7/4610.md) of this title shall be within the judicial district where such [person](/usc/7/4602.md?p=15) resides or has a principal place of business.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–590, § 11A, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XIX, § 1986, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3908; amended Pub. L. 102–237, title VIII, § 807(2), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1883.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 102–237 struck out “section” after “4609 or”.