# § 241. Definitions
In this chapter:
**(1)** **Agricultural product** The term “agricultural product” means an agricultural commodity, as determined by the Secretary, including a processed product of an agricultural commodity.
**(2)** **Approval** The term “approval” means the consent provided by the Secretary for a person to engage in an activity authorized by this chapter.
**(3)** **Department** The term “Department” means the Department of Agriculture.
**(4)** **Electronic document** The term “electronic document” means a document that is generated, sent, received, or stored by electronic, optical, or similar means, including electronic data interchange, electronic mail, telegram, telex, or telecopy.
**(5)** **Electronic receipt** The term “electronic receipt” means a receipt that is authorized by the Secretary to be issued or transmitted under this chapter in the form of an electronic document.
**(6)** **Holder** The term “holder” means a person that has possession in fact or by operation of law of a receipt or any electronic document.
**(7)** **Person** The term “person” means—
**(A)** a person (as defined in section 1 of title 1);
**(B)** a State; and
**(C)** a political subdivision of a State.
**(8)** **Receipt** The term “receipt” means a warehouse receipt issued in accordance with this chapter, including an electronic receipt.
**(9)** **Secretary** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
**(10)** **Warehouse** The term “warehouse” means a structure or other approved storage facility, as determined by the Secretary, in which any agricultural product may be stored or handled for the purposes of interstate or foreign commerce.
**(11)** **Warehouse operator** The term “warehouse operator” means a person that is lawfully engaged in the business of storing or handling agricultural products.
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**Source Credit**: (Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. C, § 2, as added Pub. L. 106–472, title II, § 201, Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2061.)
## Editorial Notes
### Codification
This chapter constitutes part C of “An act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending , and for other purposes,” approved . Part A of , containing the “United States Cotton Futures Act” formerly classified to chapter 13 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, was repealed by section 4 of , . Part B of that act contained the “United States Grain Standards Act” and constitutes section 71 et seq. of this title.
### Prior Provisions
A prior section 241, , pt. C, § 1, , set forth short title, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by .
A prior section 2 of , pt. C, was classified to , prior to the general amendment of this chapter by .
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Short Title
> “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘United States Warehouse Act’.”
, pt. C, § 1, as added by , , , provided that:
### Effective Date; Regulations
> **“(a)** **Proposed Regulations.—** Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 9, 2000], the Secretary of Agriculture shall publish in the Federal Register proposed regulations for carrying out the amendment made by section 201 [enacting this chapter].
>
> **“(b)** **Final Regulations.—** Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate final regulations for carrying out the amendment made by section 201.
>
> **“(c)** **Effectiveness of Existing Act.—** The United States Warehouse Act (7 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) (as it existed before the amendment made by section 201) shall be effective until the earlier of—
>
> **“(1)** the date on which final regulations are promulgated under subsection (b); or
>
> **“(2)** August 1, 2001.”
, , , provided that: