7 USC § 223 - Responsibility of principal for act or omission of agent

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t7/s223"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "7 USC § 223 - Responsibility of principal for act or omission of agent"
title_number: 7
title_name: "AGRICULTURE"
section_number: "223"
section_name: "Responsibility of principal for act or omission of agent"
chapter_number: 9
chapter_name: "PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 64, title IV, § 403, 42 Stat. 168; Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 64, title V, § 503, as added Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 532, 49 Stat. 649; amended Pub. L. 100–173, § 6, Nov. 23, 1987, 101 Stat. 918; Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10502(b)(2)(C), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 510.)"
---


# § 223. Responsibility of principal for act or omission of agent

When construing and enforcing the provisions of this chapter, the act, omission, or failure of any agent, officer, or other person acting for or employed by any packer, any swine contractor, and any live poultry dealer, stockyard owner, market agency, or dealer, within the scope of his employment or office, shall in every case also be deemed the act, omission, or failure of such packer, any swine contractor, and any live poultry dealer, stockyard owner, market agency, or dealer, as well as that of such agent, officer, or other person.

---

**Source Credit**: (Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 64, title IV, § 403, 42 Stat. 168; Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 64, title V, § 503, as added Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 532, 49 Stat. 649; amended Pub. L. 100–173, § 6, Nov. 23, 1987, 101 Stat. 918; Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10502(b)(2)(C), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 510.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002— inserted “any swine contractor, and” after “packer,” in two places.

1987— substituted “, any live poultry dealer,” for “or any live poultry dealer or handler,” in two places.

1935—Act , title V, § 503, as added , inserted “or any live poultry dealer or handler” after “packer” wherever appearing.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by  effective 90 days after , see , set out as a note under .