Us Code § 604 - Post mortem examination of carcasses and marking or labeling; destruction of carcasses condemned; reinspection

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 604 — Post mortem examination of carcasses and marking or labeling; destruction of carcasses condemned; reinspection, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 604. Post mortem examination of carcasses and marking or labeling; destruction of carcasses condemned; reinspection

For the purposes hereinbefore set forth the Secretary shall cause to be made by inspectors appointed for that purpose a post mortem examination and inspection of the carcasses and parts thereof of all amenable species to be prepared at any slaughtering, meat-canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishment in any State, Territory, or the District of Columbia as articles of commerce which are capable of use as human food; and the carcasses and parts thereof of all such animals found to be not adulterated shall be marked, stamped, tagged, or labeled as "Inspected and passed"; and said inspectors shall label, mark, stamp, or tag as "Inspected and condemned" all carcasses and parts thereof of animals found to be adulterated; and all carcasses and parts thereof thus inspected and condemned shall be destroyed for food purposes by the said establishment in the presence of an inspector, and the Secretary may remove inspectors from any such establishment which fails to so destroy any such condemned carcass or part thereof, and said inspectors, after said first inspection, shall, when they deem it necessary, reinspect said carcasses or parts thereof to determine whether since the first inspection the same have become adulterated, and if any carcass or any part thereof shall, upon examination and inspection subsequent to the first examination and inspection, be found to be adulterated, it shall be destroyed for food purposes by the said establishment in the presence of an inspector, and the Secretary may remove inspectors from any establishment which fails to so destroy any such condemned carcass or part thereof.

(Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, §4, formerly 2nd par., 34 Stat. 1260; renumbered §4 and amended Pub. L. 90–201, §§1, 3, 4, 12(a)–(d), Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 584, 588, 592; Pub. L. 109–97, title VII, §798[(a)](1), Nov. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 2166.)


Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 72 of this title.

Amendments

2005—Pub. L. 109–97 substituted "amenable species" for "cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines".

1967—Pub. L. 90–201, §§3, 4, 12(a)–(d), struck out "interstate or foreign" before "commerce" and "of Agriculture" after "Secretary" in three places; struck out "for human consumption" before "at any slaughtering" and "for transportation or sale" after "District of Columbia" and inserted "which are capable of use as human food" after "commerce"; included horses, mules, and other equines in the list of animals; substituted "adulterated" for "unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food" after " 'Inspected and condemned,' all carcasses and parts thereof of animals found to be" and before ", it shall be destroyed"; substituted "not adulterated" for "sound, healthful, wholesome, and fit for human food"; and substituted "adulterated" for "unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or in any way unfit for human food" before "and if any carcass", respectively.


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2005 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–97 effective the day after 120 days after Nov. 10, 2005, see section 798(b) of Pub. L. 109–97, set out as a note under section 601 of this title.

Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–201 effective Dec. 15, 1967, except that with respect to equines (other than horses) and their carcasses and parts thereof, meat, and meat food products thereof, amendment effective upon expiration of sixty days after Dec. 15, 1967, see section 20(b) of Pub. L. 90–201, set out as an Effective Date note under section 601 of this title.

About This Section

21 U.S.C. § 604 is part of Title 21 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 21 U.S.C. § 604. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 604

What does United States Code § 604 cover?

Section 604 ("Post mortem examination of carcasses and marking or labeling; destruction of carcasses condemned; reinspection") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Us Code § 604?

A common citation format is "United States Code § 604" (Us Code). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 604 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Us Code can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Us Code.