How do I interpret fines in the Code of Federal Regulations?

[Reply]

I’m looking at a US government document codifying regulations for the National Organic Program. Specifically, one part says (bolding mine):

(g) Violations of Act. In addition to suspension or revocation, any certified operation that:

(1) Knowingly sells or labels a product as organic, except in accordance with the Act, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than the amount specified in §3.91(b)(1)(xxxvii) of this title” per violation.

What the heck does §3.91(b)(1)(xxxvii) mean? As far as I can tell, there is no section 3.91 in that document or in the overall CFR…

[Polycarp]

The trick is that the CFR’s first-level breakdown is into Titles, many of which are broken into Parts and Subparts. You were looking at a Subpart of Title 7, Agriculture. You needed to go to the full Title 7, then find Sec. 3.91 and leaf down it to the relevant penalty, which is as follows:

@7 CFR Sec. 3.91

(xxxvii) Civil penalty for knowingly labeling or selling a product
as organic except in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act of
1990, codified at 7 U.S.C. 6519(a), has a maximum of $11,000.

Relevant section is here.

[Reply]

Ahhh. Beautiful answer.

I feel enlightened. Thank you!