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2026-07-06 10:51:44 -04:00

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LegalText 18 U.S.C. § 176 Seizure, forfeiture, and destruction us united_states_code code_section 18 CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 10 BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS 176 18 U.S.C. § 176 current 119-100 2026-06-26 official https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc18@119-100.zip /us/usc/t18/s176 data/legal/raw/us/code/title-18/usc18.xml cd42b717abee0407af63c99d1a846bc09f1d1ea16409b5de3ce6dae3f8388a20 1a1bbbbdb59e376ada4eb7ad1056fd68d396679ee7ab59f0561af15006122708 0c0d45ba424d5a41b123eb183665d859a370d7c4961b72f379b1dfac91f0ff2b 2026-07-04 official
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18 U.S.C. § 176 - Seizure, forfeiture, and destruction

Text

(a) In General.— (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Attorney General may request the issuance, in the same manner as provided for a search warrant, of a warrant authorizing the seizure of any biological agent, toxin, or delivery system that—

(A) pertains to conduct prohibited under section 175 of this title; or

(B) is of a type or in a quantity that under the circumstances has no apparent justification for prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful purposes.

(2) In exigent circumstances, seizure and destruction of any biological agent, toxin, or delivery system described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) may be made upon probable cause without the necessity for a warrant.

(b) Procedure.— Property seized pursuant to subsection (a) shall be forfeited to the United States after notice to potential claimants and an opportunity for a hearing. At such hearing, the Government shall bear the burden of persuasion by a preponderance of the evidence. Except as inconsistent herewith, the same procedures and provisions of law relating to a forfeiture under the customs laws shall extend to a seizure or forfeiture under this section. The Attorney General may provide for the destruction or other appropriate disposition of any biological agent, toxin, or delivery system seized and forfeited pursuant to this section.

(c) Affirmative Defense.— It is an affirmative defense against a forfeiture under subsection (a)(1)(B) of this section that—

(1) such biological agent, toxin, or delivery system 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.

(Added Pub. L. 101298, § 3(a), May 22, 1990, 104 Stat. 202; amended Pub. L. 103322, title XXXIII, § 330010(16), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2144; Pub. L. 107188, title II, § 231(c)(3), June 12, 2002, 116 Stat. 661.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments2002—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 107188 substituted “pertains to” for “exists by reason of”. 1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103322 substituted “the Government” for “the government”.