---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 591"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "591"
heading: "Standards of export; establishment; shipping without certificate forbidden; hearings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/591"
units:
  - "Chapter 25A — Export Standards for Grapes and Plums"
---

# §591. Standards of export; establishment; shipping without certificate forbidden; hearings


It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/7/599.md?p=1) to ship or offer for shipment or for any carrier, or any steamship company, or any [person](/usc/7/599.md?p=1) to transport or receive for transportation to any foreign destination, except as provided in this chapter, any [grapes](/usc/7/599.md?p=4) or [plums](/usc/7/599.md?p=5) of any variety in packages which are not accompanied by a certificate issued under authority of the [Secretary](/usc/7/599.md?p=2) showing that such [grapes](/usc/7/599.md?p=4) or [plums](/usc/7/599.md?p=5) are of a Federal or [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) grade which meets the minimum of quality established for such variety and destination by the [Secretary](/usc/7/599.md?p=2) for shipment in export to such destination. The [Secretary](/usc/7/599.md?p=2) is authorized to prescribe, by regulations, the requirements, other than those of grades, which the fruit must meet before certificates are issued. The [Secretary](/usc/7/599.md?p=2) shall provide opportunity, by public hearing or otherwise for interested [persons](/usc/7/599.md?p=1) to examine and make recommendation with respect to any standard of export proposed to be established or designated, or regulation prescribed, by the [Secretary](/usc/7/599.md?p=2) for the purposes of this chapter.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 86–687, § 1, Sept. 2, 1960, 74 Stat. 734; Pub. L. 87–105, § 1, July 26, 1961, 75 Stat. 220; Pub. L. 93–606, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1966.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1975—Pub. L. 93–606 inserted “and destination” and “to such destination” after “such variety” and “for shipment in export”, respectively.

1961—Pub. L. 87–105 inserted “of any variety” and “for such variety” after “any grapes or plums” and “minimum of quality established”, respectively.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

Pub. L. 86–687, as amended, which is classified to this chapter, is popularly known as the “Export Grape and Plum Act”.