18 USC § 177 - Injunctions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s177"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 177 - Injunctions"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "177"
section_name: "Injunctions"
chapter_number: 10
chapter_name: "BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 101–298, § 3(a), May 22, 1990, 104 Stat. 202; amended Pub. L. 104–132, title V, § 511(b)(2), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1284.)"
---


# § 177. Injunctions

**(a)** **In General.—** The United States may obtain in a civil action an injunction against—

**(1)** the conduct prohibited under section 175 of this title;

**(2)** the preparation, solicitation, attempt, threat, or conspiracy to engage in conduct prohibited under section 175 of this title; or

**(3)** the development, production, stockpiling, transferring, acquisition, retention, or possession, or the attempted development, production, stockpiling, transferring, acquisition, retention, or possession of any biological agent, toxin, or delivery system of a type or in a quantity that under the circumstances has no apparent justification for prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful purposes.

**(b)** **Affirmative Defense.—** It is an affirmative defense against an injunction under subsection (a)(3) of this section that—

**(1)** the conduct sought to be enjoined is for a prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful purpose; and

**(2)** such biological agent, toxin, or delivery system is of a type and quantity reasonable for that purpose.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 101–298, § 3(a), May 22, 1990, 104 Stat. 202; amended Pub. L. 104–132, title V, § 511(b)(2), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1284.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(2).  inserted “threat,” after “attempt,”.