Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 15 : Section 54


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 54. False advertisements; penalties

    (a) Imposition of penalties
      Any person, partnership, or corporation who violates any
    provision of section 52(a) of this title shall, if the use of the
    commodity advertised may be injurious to health because of results
    from such use under the conditions prescribed in the advertisement
    thereof, or under such conditions as are customary or usual, or if
    such violation is with intent to defraud or mislead, be guilty of a
    misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not
    more than $5,000 or by imprisonment for not more than six months,
    or by both such fine and imprisonment; except that if the
    conviction is for a violation committed after a first conviction of
    such person, partnership, or corporation, for any violation of such
    section, punishment shall be by a fine of not more than $10,000 or
    by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both such fine
    and imprisonment: Provided, That for the purposes of this section
    meats and meat food products duly inspected, marked, and labeled in
    accordance with rules and regulations issued under the Meat
    Inspection Act [21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.] shall be conclusively
    presumed not injurious to health at the time the same leave
    official "establishments."
    (b) Exception of advertising medium or agency
      No publisher, radio-broadcast licensee, or agency or medium for
    the dissemination of advertising, except the manufacturer, packer,
    distributor, or seller of the commodity to which the false
    advertisement relates, shall be liable under this section by reason
    of the dissemination by him of any false advertisement, unless he
    has refused, on the request of the Commission, to furnish the
    Commission the name and post-office address of the manufacturer,
    packer, distributor, seller, or advertising agency, residing in the
    United States, who caused him to disseminate such advertisement. No
    advertising agency shall be liable under this section by reason of
    the causing by it of the dissemination of any false advertisement,
    unless it has refused, on the request of the Commission, to furnish
    the Commission the name and post-office address of the
    manufacturer, packer, distributor, or seller, residing in the
    United States, who caused it to cause the dissemination of such
    advertisement.



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