---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 8303"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "8303"
heading: "Restriction on importation or entry"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/8303"
units:
  - "Chapter 109 — Animal Health Protection"
---

# §8303. Restriction on importation or entry

- (a) **In general—** With notice to the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) of the Treasury and public notice as soon as practicable, the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) may prohibit or restrict—
  - (1) the importation or entry of any [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1), [article](/usc/7/8302.md?p=2), or [means of conveyance](/usc/7/8302.md?p=11), or use of any [means of conveyance](/usc/7/8302.md?p=11) or [facility](/usc/7/8302.md?p=6), if the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction into or dissemination within the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) of any [pest](/usc/7/8302.md?p=13) or [disease](/usc/7/8302.md?p=3) of [livestock](/usc/7/8302.md?p=10);
  - (2) the further movement of any [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1) that has strayed into the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) if the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction into or dissemination within the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) of any [pest](/usc/7/8302.md?p=13) or [disease](/usc/7/8302.md?p=3) of [livestock](/usc/7/8302.md?p=10); and
  - (3) the use of any [means of conveyance](/usc/7/8302.md?p=11) in connection with the importation or entry of [livestock](/usc/7/8302.md?p=10) if the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary because the [means of conveyance](/usc/7/8302.md?p=11) has not been maintained in a clean and sanitary condition or does not have accommodations for the safe and proper movement of [livestock](/usc/7/8302.md?p=10).
- (b) **Regulations—**
  - (1) **Restrictions on import and entry—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) may issue such orders and promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) **Post importation quarantine—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) may promulgate regulations requiring that any [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1) imported or entered be raised or handled under post-importation quarantine conditions by or under the supervision of the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) for the purpose of determining whether the [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1) is or may be affected by any [pest](/usc/7/8302.md?p=13) or [disease](/usc/7/8302.md?p=3) of [livestock](/usc/7/8302.md?p=10).
- (c) **Destruction or removal—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) may order the destruction or removal from the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) of—
    - (A) any [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1), [article](/usc/7/8302.md?p=2), or [means of conveyance](/usc/7/8302.md?p=11) that has been imported but has not entered the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) if the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) determines that destruction or removal from the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) is necessary to prevent the introduction into or dissemination within the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) of any [pest](/usc/7/8302.md?p=13) or [disease](/usc/7/8302.md?p=3) of [livestock](/usc/7/8302.md?p=10);
    - (B) any [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1) or progeny of any [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1), [article](/usc/7/8302.md?p=2), or [means of conveyance](/usc/7/8302.md?p=11) that has been imported or entered in violation of [this chapter](/usc/7/8302.md?p=16); or
    - (C) any [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1) that has strayed into the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) if the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) determines that destruction or removal from the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) is necessary to prevent the introduction into or dissemination within the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) of any [pest](/usc/7/8302.md?p=13) or [disease](/usc/7/8302.md?p=3) of [livestock](/usc/7/8302.md?p=10).
  - (2) **Requirements of owners—**
    - (A) **Orders to disinfect—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) may require the disinfection of—
      - (i) a [means of conveyance](/usc/7/8302.md?p=11) used in connection with the importation of an [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1);
      - (ii) an individual involved in the importation of an [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1) and personal [articles](/usc/7/8302.md?p=2) of the individual; and
      - (iii) any [article](/usc/7/8302.md?p=2) used in the importation of an [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1).
    - (B) **Failure to comply with orders—** If an owner fails to comply with an order of the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) may—
      - (i) take remedial action, destroy, or remove from the [United States](/usc/7/8302.md?p=17) the [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1) or progeny of any [animal](/usc/7/8302.md?p=1), [article](/usc/7/8302.md?p=2), or [means of conveyance](/usc/7/8302.md?p=11) as authorized under [paragraph (1)](#c-1); and
      - (ii) recover from the owner the costs of any care, handling, disposal, or other action incurred by the [Secretary](/usc/7/8302.md?p=14) in connection with the remedial action, destruction, or removal.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10404, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 496.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(B), was in the original “this subtitle”, meaning subtitle E (§§ 10401–10418) of title X of Pub. L. 107–171, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 494, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of subtitle E to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 8301 of this title and Tables.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to agricultural import and entry inspection activities under this chapter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 231, 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.