Federal Seed Act

Template:Use American English The Federal Seed Act, P.L. 76-354 (August 9, 1939), requires accurate labeling and purity standards for seeds in commerce, and prohibits the importation and movement of adulterated or misbranded seeds. The law works in conjunction with the Plant Protection Act of 2000 to authorize the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to regulate the importation of field crop, pasture and forage, or vegetable seed that may contain noxious weed seeds. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is responsible for enforcing the labeling and purity standard provisions.

Titles of the Act

Title 7 Chapter 37 was authored as four titles establishing agricultural policy for the specifications of forage and vegetable seeds.

Title I - Definitions - 7 U.S.C. §§ 1561-1562

Construction with respect to labeling for variety and origin

Agricultural seeds

Vegetable seeds

Weed seeds

Noxious weed seeds

Origin, kind, variety, and type of seeds

Germination

Hard seeds

Pure live seed

Label and labeling of seeds

Advertisement

Subject to prescribed tolerances

False labeling and false advertisement

Screenings

In bulk

Title II - Interstate Commerce - 7 U.S.C. §§ 1571-1575

Prohibitions Relating to Interstate Commerce in Certain Seeds

Records

Exemptions

Disclaimers and Nonwarranties

False Advertising

Title III - Foreign Commerce - 7 U.S.C. §§ 1581-1586

Prohibitions and Procedures Relating to Importations

Adulterated Seed

Seed Unfit for Seeding Purposes

Certain Seeds Required to be Stained

Certain Acts Prohibited

Title IV - General Provisions - 7 U.S.C. §§ 1591-1610

Delegation of Duties

Rules and Regulations

Standards, Tests, and Tolerances

Prohibition Against Alterations

Seizure

Penalties

Cease and Desist Proceedings

Separability of Proceedings

Publication

Authorization for Appropriations

Authorization for Expenditures

Cooperation

Separability of Provisions

Repeals

Effective Date

Amendments to 1939 Act

U.S. Statutes related to Amendments and Federal Seed Act of 1939

Date of Enactment Public Law No. U.S. Statute U.S. Bill No. U.S. Presidential Administration July 9, 1956 P.L. 84-662 70 Stat. 508 S. Template:Replace Dwight D. Eisenhower August 1, 1958 P.L. 85-581 72 Stat. 476 S. Template:Replace Dwight D. Eisenhower October 15, 1966 P.L. 89-686 80 Stat. 975 H.R. Template:Replace Lyndon B. Johnson October 17, 1969 P.L. 91-89 83 Stat. 134 S. Template:Replace Richard M. Nixon January 8, 1983 P.L. 97-439 96 Stat. 2287 -congress/H.R./Template:Replace H.R. Template:Replace Ronald W. Reagan

See also

• Plant Disease Bulletin
• Seed bank

External links

• Template:Sister-inline