---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4816"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4816"
heading: "Investigations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4816"
units:
  - "Chapter 79 — Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information"
---

# §4816. Investigations

- (a) **Purposes—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) may make such investigations as the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) considers necessary—
  - (1) for the effective administration of this chapter; or
  - (2) to determine whether a [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) subject to this chapter has engaged, or is about to engage, in an act that constitutes, or will constitute, a violation of this chapter or an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6), rule, or regulation issued under this chapter.
- (b) **Oaths and affirmations; subpenas—**
  - (1) For the purpose of such investigation, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any records that are relevant to the inquiry.
  - (2) Such attendance of witnesses and the production of such records may be required from any place in the United States.
- (c) **Judicial enforcement; contempt proceedings; service of process—**
  - (1) In the case of contumacy, or refusal to obey a subpoena, by a [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7), the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) may invoke the aid of a court of the United States with jurisdiction over such investigation or proceeding, or where such [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) resides or does business, in requiring the attendance and testimony of such [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) and the production of such records.
  - (2) The court may issue an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) requiring such [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) to appear before the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) to produce records or to give testimony touching the matter under investigation.
  - (3) A failure to obey an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) issued under this section by the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof.
  - (4) Process in such case may be served in the judicial district in which such [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) is an inhabitant or wherever such [person](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) may be found.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XVI, § 1627, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1621.)

## 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.