---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4911"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4911"
heading: "Investigation and power to subpoena"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4911"
units:
  - "Chapter 80 — Watermelon Research and Promotion"
---

# §4911. Investigation and power to subpoena

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1) may make such investigations as the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1) deems necessary to carry out effectively the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1)’s responsibilities under this chapter or to determine whether a [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) has engaged or is engaging in any acts or practices that constitute a violation of any provision of this chapter, or of any plan or regulation issued under this chapter. For the purpose of an investigation, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1) may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, and documents that are relevant to the inquiry. The attendance of witnesses and the production of records may be required from any place in the [United States](/usc/7/4902.md?p=10). In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2), including a [handler](/usc/7/4902.md?p=4) (or an [importer](/usc/7/4902.md?p=6) who is subject to the plan), the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1) may invoke the aid of any court of the [United States](/usc/7/4902.md?p=10) within the jurisdiction of which such investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where such [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) resides or carries on business, in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents; and such court may issue an order requiring the [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) to appear before the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1), there to produce records, if so ordered, or to give testimony touching the matter under investigation. Any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by the court as contempt thereof. All process in any such case may be served in the judicial district in which the [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) is an inhabitant or wherever the [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) may be found. The site of any hearing held under this subsection shall be within the judicial district in which the [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) is an inhabitant or in which the [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2)’s principal place of business is located.
- (b) No [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) shall be excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, papers, and documents before the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1), or in obedience to the subpoena of the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1), or in any cause or proceeding, criminal or otherwise, based on, or growing out of, any alleged violation of this chapter, or of any plan or regulation issued thereunder, on the grounds that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of the [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) may tend to incriminate the [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) or subject the [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) to a penalty or forfeiture. However, no [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which the [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2) is compelled, after having claimed the [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2)’s privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, except that any individual so testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XVI, § 1652, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1628; Pub. L. 103–189, § 8(h), Dec. 14, 1993, 107 Stat. 2262.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–189, in first sentence, substituted “a person” for “a handler or any other person”, in fourth sentence, inserted “(or an importer who is subject to the plan)” after “a handler”, and in last sentence, substituted “the person” for “the handler or other person”.