§ 644 - Label requirements for agricultural, flower, and vegetable seeds - Vermont Statutes

§ 644. Label requirements for agricultural, flower, and vegetable seeds

(a) Each container of agricultural, flower and vegetable seeds which is sold in this state for sowing purposes shall be labeled.

(1) All labels shall include:

(A) the name of the kind of each agricultural, flower, grass and vegetable seed present;

(B) the lot number or other lot identification;

(C) for agricultural and grass seed, the percent by weight of all weed seeds, crop seeds and inert matter;

(D) the percent germination of agricultural and grass seed, exclusive of hard seed, the percentage by weight of hard seed, and the calendar month and year the test was completed;

(E) the name and address of labeler or distributor.

(2) For all seeds that have been treated, the label shall include a word or statement indicating that the seed has been treated with the commonly accepted chemical or abbreviated chemical name of the applied substance. A caution statement shall be set forth if the substance in the amount present is harmful to human or other vertebrate animals. The caution for toxic substances shall be a poison statement or symbol.

(3) For seed treated with an innoculant, the label shall state the date of expiration of the innoculant.

(4) For all seed containing genetically engineered material, the manufacturer or processor shall cause the label or labeling to specify the identity and relevant traits or characteristics of such seed, plus any requirements for their safe handling, storage, transport, and use, the contact point for further information and, as appropriate, the name and address of the manufacturer, distributor, or supplier of such seed.

(b) The secretary may adopt rules for labeling procedures consistent with the provisions of this section, which take into account: origin, presence of weed seed, mixtures, hermetically sealed containers, coated seed, "crop seeds," genetically engineered material, genetically engineered plant parts, hybrids, germination medium, and preplanted containers. (Added 1989, No. 85, § 2; amended 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2003, No. 97 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 2004; 2003, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 13, eff. Oct. 2, 2004.)