Title 7 — Agriculture
Chapter 37 — Seeds
§ 1599. Cease and desist proceedings
Statutory text
Hearing
Whenever the Secretary of Agriculture has reason to believe that any person has violated or is violating any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations made and promulgated thereunder, he shall cause a complaint in writing to be served upon the person, stating his charges in that respect, and requiring the person to attend and testify at a hearing at a time and place designated therein, at least thirty days after the service of such complaint; and at such time and place there shall be afforded the person a reasonable opportunity to be informed as to the evidence introduced against him (including the right of cross-examination), and to be heard in person or by counsel and through witnesses, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe. At any time prior to the close of the hearing the Secretary of Agriculture may amend the complaint; but in case of any amendment adding new provisions the hearing shall, on the request of the person, be adjourned for a period not exceeding fifteen days.
Report of Secretary of Agriculture
If, after such hearing, the Secretary of Agriculture finds that the person has violated or is violating any provisions of the chapter or rules and regulations covered by the charges, he shall make a report in writing in which he shall state his findings as to the facts, and shall issue and cause to be served on the person an order requiring such person to cease and desist from continuing such violation. The testimony taken at the hearing shall be reduced to writing and filed in the records of the Department of Agriculture.
Amendment of report
Until the record in such hearing has been filed in a court of appeals as provided in section 1600 of this title, the Secretary of Agriculture at any time, upon such notice and in such manner as he deems proper, but only after reasonable opportunity to the person to be heard, may amend or set aside the report or order, in whole or in part.
Service
Complaints, orders, and other processes of the Secretary of Agriculture under this section may be served by anyone duly authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture, either (1) by delivering a copy thereof to the person to be served, or to a member of the partnership to be served, or to the president, secretary, or other executive officer or a director of the corporation to be served; or (2) by leaving a copy thereof at the principal office or place of business of such person, partnership, or corporation; or (3) by mailing a copy thereof by registered mail or by certified mail addressed to such person, partnership, or corporation at his or its last known principal office or place of business. The verified return by the person so serving said complaint, order, or other process setting forth the manner of said order shall be proof of the same, and the return postoffice receipt for said complaint, order, or other process mailed by registered mail or by certified mail as aforesaid shall be proof of the service of the same.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 76–615 · 53 Stat. 1275
Enacted · 7 U.S.C. § 1599
Aug. 9, 1939, ch. 615, title IV, § 409, 53 Stat. 1287
Source evidence
Code source credit
Aug. 9, 1939, ch. 615, title IV, § 409, 53 Stat. 1287Pub. L. 85–791 § 24(a) · 72 Stat. 941
Struck · 7 U.S.C. § 1599(c)
Pub. L. 85–791 struck out “a transcript of” before “the record”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 85–791 struck out “a transcript of” before “the record”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) Subsection (c) of section 409 of the Federal Seed Act Agriculture. 7 USC 1599. (53 Stat. 1287), is amended to read as follows: “(c) Until the record in such hearing has been filed in a court of appeals as provided in section 410, the Secretary of Agriculture at any time, upon such notice and in such manner as he deems proper, but only after reasonable opportunity to the person to be heard, may amend or set aside the report or order, in whole or in part.”Pub. L. 86–507 § 1(7) · 74 Stat. 200
Substituted · 7 U.S.C. § 1599(d)
Pub. L. 86–507 substituted “mailing a copy thereof by registered mail or by certified mail” for “registering and mailing a copy thereof”
Substituted · 7 U.S.C. § 1599(d)
Pub. L. 86–507 substituted “mailed by registered mail or by certified mail” for “registered and mailed”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 86–507 substituted “mailing a copy thereof by registered mail or by certified mail” for “registering and mailing a copy thereof” and “mailed by registered mail or by certified mail” for “registered and mailed”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) section 12(b) of the Act of August 2, 1939, as added by section 4 of the Act of July 19, 1940 (54 Stat. 767; 5 U.S.C. 118k), is amended by inserting “or by certified mail” immediately following the words “registered mail” wherever such words appear therein.
3 of 4 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial
Editorial Notes
Amendments1958–1960 · 2 rounds
1960
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 86–507 substituted “mailing a copy thereof by registered mail or by certified mail” for “registering and mailing a copy thereof” and “mailed by registered mail or by certified mail” for “registered and mailed”.
1958
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 85–791 struck out “a transcript of” before “the record”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Act , as amended by act , substituted “court of appeals” for “circuit court of appeals” which appeared in subsec. (c) of this section.
Effective Date
Credits
1939–1960 · 5 acts
- 1939Aug. 9, 1939, ch. 615, title IV, § 409, 53 Stat. 1287
- 1948June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 32(a), 62 Stat. 991
- 1949May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 127, 63 Stat. 107
- 1958Pub. L. 85–791, § 24(a), , 72 Stat. 949
- 1960Pub. L. 86–507, § 1(7), , 74 Stat. 200.
Show as published
(Aug. 9, 1939, ch. 615, title IV, § 409, 53 Stat. 1287; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 32(a), 62 Stat. 991; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 127, 63 Stat. 107; Pub. L. 85–791, § 24(a), , 72 Stat. 949; Pub. L. 86–507, § 1(7), , 74 Stat. 200.)