---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4815"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4815"
heading: "Enforcement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4815"
units:
  - "Chapter 79 — Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information"
---

# §4815. Enforcement

- (a) **Jurisdiction of district court; referral of civil actions to Attorney General—**
  - (1) A district court of the United States shall have jurisdiction specifically to enforce, and to prevent and restrain a [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) from violating an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6), rule, or regulation issued under this chapter.
  - (2) A civil action authorized to be brought under this subsection shall be referred to the Attorney General for appropriate action, except that the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) is not required to refer to the Attorney General a violation of this chapter if the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) believes that the administration and enforcement of this chapter would be adequately served by providing a suitable written notice or warning to a [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) who committed such violation or by administrative action under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Penalties for willful violations; issuance of cease-and-desist orders; judicial review of orders; penalty for failure to obey cease-and-desist order—**
  - (1)
    - (A) A [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) who willfully violates an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6), rule, or regulation issued by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) under this chapter may be assessed—
      - (i) a civil penalty by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) of not more than $1,000 for each such violation; and
      - (ii) in the case of a willful failure to pay, collect, or remit an assessment as required by an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6), an additional penalty equal to the amount of such assessment.
    - (B) Each such violation shall be a separate offense.
    - (C) In addition to or in lieu of such civil penalty, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) may issue an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) requiring such [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) to cease and desist from violating such [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6), rule, or regulation.
    - (D) No penalty may be assessed or cease-and-desist [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) issued unless the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) gives such [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) notice and opportunity for a hearing on the record with respect to such violation.
    - (E) An [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) issued under this paragraph by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall be final and conclusive unless such [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) files an appeal from such [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) with the appropriate United States court of appeals not later than 30 days after such [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) receives notice of such [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6).
  - (2)
    - (A) A [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) against whom an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) is issued under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) may obtain review of such [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) in the court of appeals of the United States for the circuit in which such [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) resides or does business, or in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, by—
      - (i) filing a notice of appeal in such court not later than 30 days after the date of such [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6); and
      - (ii) simultaneously sending a copy of such notice by certified mail to the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14).
    - (B) The [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall file promptly in such court a certified copy of the record on which such violation was found.
    - (C) A finding of the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall be set aside only if the finding is found to be unsupported by substantial evidence.
  - (3)
    - (A) A [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) who fails to obey a valid cease-and-desist [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) issued under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14), after an opportunity for a hearing, shall be subject to a civil penalty assessed by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) of not more than $500 for each offense.
    - (B) Each day during which such failure continues shall be considered a separate violation of such [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6).
  - (4)
    - (A) If a [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) fails to pay a valid civil penalty imposed under this subsection by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14), the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall refer the matter to the Attorney General for recovery of the amount assessed in an appropriate district court of the United States.
    - (B) In such action, the validity and appropriateness of the [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) imposing such civil penalty shall not be subject to review.
- (c) **Availability of additional remedies—** The remedies provided in subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) shall be in addition to, and not exclusive of, other remedies that may be available.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XVI, § 1626, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1620.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1986, see section 1631 of Pub. L. 99–198, set out as a note under section 4801 of this title.