7 USC § 1639 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t7/s1639"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "7 USC § 1639 - Definitions"
title_number: 7
title_name: "AGRICULTURE"
section_number: "1639"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 38
chapter_name: "DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "NATIONAL BIOENGINEERED FOOD DISCLOSURE STANDARD"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title II, § 291, as added Pub. L. 114–216, § 1, July 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 834.)"
---


# § 1639. Definitions

In this subchapter:

**(1)** **Bioengineering** The term “bioengineering”, and any similar term, as determined by the Secretary, with respect to a food, refers to a food—

**(A)** that contains genetic material that has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) techniques; and

**(B)** for which the modification could not otherwise be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature.

**(2)** **Food** section 321 of title 21

The term “food” means a food (as defined in ) that is intended for human consumption.

**(3)** **Secretary** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.

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**Source Credit**: (Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title II, § 291, as added Pub. L. 114–216, § 1, July 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 834.)