18 U.S.C. § 178 — Definitions

submitted 36 years ago by Pub. L. 101-298 to r/title-18-CRIMES-AND-CRIMINAL-PROCEDURE · 246 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

This law defines terms used in this chapter about biological weapons. "Biological agent" and "toxin" cover organisms and substances that can cause disease, death, or damage. "Delivery system" and "vector" cover devices and living things that spread these agents.

As used in this chapter: (1) "Biological agent" means any microorganism — including bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae, or protozoa — or any infectious substance, or any naturally occurring, bioengineered, or synthesized part of one of these, that can cause: (A) death, disease, or other biological harm in a human, animal, plant, or other living thing; (B) spoiling of food, water, equipment, supplies, or other material; or (C) harmful changes to the environment. (2) "Toxin" means a toxic material or product made by plants, animals, microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae, or protozoa), or infectious substances, or a recombinant or synthesized molecule, no matter how it originated or was made. This includes: (A) any poisonous substance or biological product engineered through biotechnology by a living organism; or (B) any poisonous version, biological product, related compound, or derivative of such a substance. (3) "Delivery system" means: (A) any device, equipment, or method built specifically to deliver or spread a biological agent, toxin, or vector; or (B) any vector. (4) "Vector" means a living organism, or molecule — including a recombinant or synthesized molecule — that can carry a biological agent or toxin to a host. (5) "National of the United States" has the meaning given in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(22)).

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

As used in this chapter—

(1)

the term “biological agent” means any microorganism (including, but not limited to, bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae or protozoa), or infectious substance, or any naturally occurring, bioengineered or synthesized component of any such microorganism or infectious substance, capable of causing—

(A)

death, disease, or other biological malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant, or another living organism;

(B)

deterioration of food, water, equipment, supplies, or material of any kind; or

(C)

deleterious alteration of the environment;

(2)

the term “toxin” means the toxic material or product of plants, animals, microorganisms (including, but not limited to, bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae or protozoa), or infectious substances, or a recombinant or synthesized molecule, whatever their origin and method of production, and includes—

(A)

any poisonous substance or biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology produced by a living organism; or

(B)

any poisonous isomer or biological product, homolog, or derivative of such a substance;

(3)

the term “delivery system” means—

(A)

any apparatus, equipment, device, or means of delivery specifically designed to deliver or disseminate a biological agent, toxin, or vector; or

(B)

any vector;

(4)

the term “vector” means a living organism, or molecule, including a recombinant or synthesized molecule, capable of carrying a biological agent or toxin to a host; and

(5)

the term “national of the United States” has the meaning prescribed in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)).

Source credit: (Added Pub. L. 101–298, § 3(a), May 22, 1990, 104 Stat. 202; amended Pub. L. 104–132, title V, § 511(b)(3), title VII, § 721(h), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1284, 1299; Pub. L. 107–188, title II, § 231(c)(4), June 12, 2002, 116 Stat. 661.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

1990Enacted · Pub. L. 101-298 · 104 Stat. 202
1996Amended · Pub. L. 104-132 · 110 Stat. 1284, 1299
2002Amended · Pub. L. 107-188 · 116 Stat. 661

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 101-298 on 1990-05-22.

all 0 arguments · sorted by: best

no arguments yet — make the first case