Federal · Title 7 — Agriculture

7 U.S.C. § 221: Accounts and records of business; punishment for failure to keep

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Packers, swine contractors, poultry dealers, and related businesses must keep accurate records of all transactions. Failure to maintain records as prescribed by the Secretary is punishable by fine up to $5,000, imprisonment up to three years, or both.

Read the full statutory text

Every packer, any swine contractor, and any live poultry dealer, stockyard owner, market agency, and dealer shall keep such accounts, records, and memoranda as fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in his business, including the true ownership of such business by stockholding or otherwise. Whenever the Secretary finds that the accounts, records, and memoranda of any such person do not fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in his business, the Secretary may prescribe the manner and form in which such accounts, records, and memoranda shall be kept, and thereafter any such person who fails to keep such accounts, records, and memoranda in the manner and form prescribed or approved by the Secretary shall upon conviction be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.