---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 7418"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "7418"
heading: "Petition and review of orders"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/7418"
units:
  - "Chapter 101 — Agricultural Promotion"
  - "Subchapter II — Issuance of Orders for Promotion, Research, and Information Activities Regarding Agricultural Commodities"
---

# §7418. Petition and review of orders

- (a) **Petition—**
  - (1) **In general—** A [person](/usc/7/7412.md?p=10) subject to an [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9) issued under this subchapter may file with the [Secretary](/usc/7/7412.md?p=14) a petition—
    - (A) stating that the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9), any provision of the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9), or any obligation imposed in connection with the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9), is not established in accordance with law; and
    - (B) requesting a modification of the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9) or an exemption from the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9).
  - (2) **Hearing—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7412.md?p=14) shall give the petitioner an opportunity for a hearing on the petition, in accordance with regulations issued by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7412.md?p=14).
  - (3) **Ruling—** After the hearing, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7412.md?p=14) shall make a ruling on the petition. The ruling shall be final, subject to review as set forth in [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (4) **Limitation on petition—** Any petition filed under this subsection challenging an [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9), any provision of the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9), or any obligation imposed in connection with the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9), shall be filed within 2 years after the effective date of the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9), provision, or obligation subject to challenge in the petition.
- (b) **Review—**
  - (1) **Commencement of action—** The district court of the [United States](/usc/7/7412.md?p=18) for any district in which a [person](/usc/7/7412.md?p=10) who is a petitioner under [subsection (a)](#a) resides or carries on business shall have jurisdiction to review the final ruling on the petition of the [person](/usc/7/7412.md?p=10), if a complaint for that purpose is filed not later than 20 days after the date of the entry of the final ruling by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7412.md?p=14) under [subsection (a)(3)](#a-3).
  - (2) **Process—** Service of process in a proceeding may be made on the [Secretary](/usc/7/7412.md?p=14) by delivering a copy of the complaint to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7412.md?p=14).
  - (3) **Remands—** If the court determines that the ruling is not in accordance with law, the court shall remand the matter to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7412.md?p=14) with directions—
    - (A) to make such ruling as the court determines to be in accordance with law; or
    - (B) to take such further action as, in the opinion of the court, the law requires.
- (c) **Effect on enforcement proceedings—** The pendency of a petition filed under [subsection (a)](#a) or an action commenced under [subsection (b)](#b) shall not operate as a stay of any action authorized by [section 7419 of this title](/usc/7/7419.md) to be taken to enforce this subchapter, including any rule, [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9), or penalty in effect under this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–127, title V, § 519, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1044.)