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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill addresses regulation of seeds.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ modifies a definition provision;
13 ▸ addresses labeling requirements; and
14 ▸ makes technical changes.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 4-16-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 355
22 4-16-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 355
23
24 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25 Section 1. Section 4-16-102 is amended to read:
26 4-16-102. Definitions.
27 As used in this chapter:
28 (1) "Advertisement" means any representation made relative to seeds, plants, bulbs, or
29 ground stock other than those on the label of a seed container, disseminated in any manner.
30 (2) "Agricultural seed" includes:
31 (a) grass, forage, cereal, oil, fiber, and other kinds of crop seed commonly recognized
32 within this state as agricultural seed;
33 (b) lawn seed;
34 (c) combinations of the seed described in Subsections (2)(a) and (2)(b); and
35 (d) noxious weed seed, if the department determines by rule made in accordance with
36 Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, that a noxious weed seed is being
37 used as agricultural seed.
38 (3) "Blend" means seed consisting of more than one variety of a kind, each in excess of
39 5% by weight of the whole.
40 (4) "Brand" means a word, name, symbol, number, or design used to:
41 (a) identify the seed of one person; and
42 (b) distinguish the seed of one person from the seed of another person.
43 (5) "Certifying agency" means:
44 (a) an agency authorized under the laws of a state, territory, or possession to officially
45 certify seed and that has standards and procedures approved by the United States Secretary of
46 Agriculture to assure the genetic purity and identity of the seed certified; or
47 (b) an agency of a foreign country determined by the United States Secretary of
48 Agriculture to adhere to procedures and standards for seed certification.
49 (6) (a) "Complete record" means all information that relates to the:
50 (i) origin, treatment, germination, purity, kind, and variety of each lot of agricultural
51 seed sold in this state; or
52 (ii) treatment, germination, kind, and variety of each lot of vegetable or flower seed
53 sold in this state.
54 (b) "Complete record" includes seed samples and records of declarations, labels,
55 purchases, sales, conditioning, bulking, treatment, handling, storage, analyses, tests, and
56 examinations.
57 (7) "Conditioning" means drying, cleaning, scarifying, and other operations that:
58 (a) could change the purity or germination of a seed; and
59 (b) require a seed lot to be retested to determine the label information.
60 (8) "Controlling the pollination" means to use a method of hybridization that will
61 produce pure seed that is at least 75% hybrid seed.
62 [
63 when provided the specified germination conditions for the kind of seed in question.
64 [
65 (a) grown for their blooms, ornamental foliage, or other ornamental parts; and
66 (b) commonly known and sold under the name of flower or wildflower seed in this
67 state.
68 [
69 produced and labeled in accordance with procedures officially recognized by a seed certifying
70 agency approved and accredited in this state.
71 [
72 embryo of those essential structures that are, for the kind of seed in question, indicative of the
73 ability to produce a normal plant under favorable conditions expressed in whole numbers.
74 [
75 germination test period because the seed has not absorbed water due to an impermeable seed
76 coat.
77 [
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79 [
80 [
81 [
82 [
83
84 (14) (a) "Hybrid" applied to kinds or varieties of seed, means the first generation seed
85 of a cross produced by controlling the pollination and by combining:
86 (i) two or more inbred lines;
87 (ii) one inbred or a single cross with an open pollinated variety; or
88 (iii) two selected clones, seed lines, varieties, or species.
89 (b) The department shall treat hybrid designations as variety names.
90 [
91 sterile florets, chaff, fungus bodies, and stones, as determined by methods defined by rule.
92 (16) "Inoculant" means a commercial preparation containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria
93 applied to seed.
94 [
95 or collectively are known by one common name, for example, corn, oats, alfalfa, and timothy.
96 [
97 accompanying and pertaining to any seeds, plants, bulbs, or ground stock whether in bulk or in
98 containers.
99 (b) "Label" includes a representation on an invoice, bill, or letterhead.
100 [
101 printed on a container or accompanying a lot of bulk seeds that:
102 (a) claims to specify the information required on the seed label by this chapter; and
103 (b) may include other information related to the labeled seed.
104 [
105 mark, every portion or bag of which is uniform within recognized tolerances for the factors that
106 appear in the labeling.
107 [
108 kind, each in excess of 5% by weight of the whole.
109 [
110 seed that:
111 (a) acts to retain sufficient moisture to support seed germination and sustain early
112 seedling growth;
113 (b) aids in the prevention of the evaporation of soil moisture;
114 (c) aids in the control of weeds; and
115 (d) aids in the prevention of erosion.
116 [
117
118 (23) "Noxious weed seeds" means:
119 (a) prohibited noxious weed seeds; or
120 (b) restricted noxious weed seeds.
121 [
122 or plant deviates in one or more characteristics from the variety.
123 (b) "Off-type" may include a seed or plant that:
124 (i) is of another variety;
125 (ii) is not necessarily any variety;
126 (iii) results from cross-pollination by another kind or variety; or
127 (iv) results from uncontrolled self-pollination during production of hybrid seeds.
128 [
129 (a) for an indigenous stand of trees, the area on which the trees are growing; and
130 (b) for a nonindigenous stand of trees, the place from which the seeds or plants
131 originated.
132 [
133 kind or variety included in the pure seed, as determined by methods defined by rule.
134 [
135 association, receiver, trustee, or agent.
136 (28) (a) "Prohibited noxious weed seeds" means those weed seeds determined by the
137 commissioner that are prohibited from being present in agricultural, vegetable, flower, tree, or
138 shrub seed.
139 (b) "Prohibited noxious weed seeds" include the seeds of weeds that are highly
140 destructive and difficult to control by good cultural practices and the use of herbicides.
141 [
142 the seed being considered as determined by methods defined by rule.
143 (30) "Restricted noxious weed seeds" means those weed seeds determined by the
144 commissioner that:
145 (a) are objectionable in agricultural crops, lawns, and gardens of this state; and
146 (b) can be controlled by good cultural practices or the use of herbicides.
147 [
148 purposes.
149 [
150 seed, tree and shrub seed, or seed for sprouting in a selected environment for the purpose of
151 obtaining plant growth.
152 [
153 compound 2, 3, 5 triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC), as specified in Part II, Tetrazolium
154 Testing Handbook, Contribution Number 29, to the handbook on Seed Testing, prepared by the
155 Tetrazolium subcommittee of the Association of Official Seed Analysts, 2008 Edition.
156 [
157 (a) equal to the sum of percentage germination, percentage dormant seed, and
158 percentage hard seed; or
159 (b) determined by a tetrazolium test for species identified in the rules for testing or for
160 species for which there are no rules for testing.
161 [
162 been subjected to a process about which a claim is made.
163 [
164 sold as tree and shrub seeds in this state.
165 [
166 varieties cannot be clearly differentiated except under special conditions.
167 [
168 (i) is distinct within the variety but occurs naturally in the variety;
169 (ii) is stable and predictable with a degree of reliability comparable to other varieties of
170 the same kind, within recognized tolerances, when the variety is reproduced or reconstituted;
171 and
172 (iii) was originally a part of the variety as released.
173 (b) "Variant" does not include an off-type.
174 [
175 (a) distinct, meaning a variety can be differentiated by one or more identifiable
176 morphological, physiological, or other characteristics from all other varieties of public
177 knowledge;
178 (b) uniform, meaning that variations in essential and distinctive characteristics are
179 describable; and
180 (c) stable, meaning a variety's essential and distinctive characteristics and uniformity
181 will remain unchanged when reproduced or reconstituted as required by the category of variety.
182 [
183 (a) grown in gardens or on truck farms; and
184 (b) generally known and sold under the name of vegetable or herb seed in this state.
185 [
186 within this state, as determined by methods defined by rule.
187 (42) "Weight" means the net weight of the commodity.
188 Section 2. Section 4-16-201 is amended to read:
189 4-16-201. Labeling requirements.
190 (1) [
191 within this state shall bear [
192 a printed label that:
193 (a) is in a conspicuous place;
194 (b) is plainly written in the English language;
195 (c) is in type no smaller than eight point;
196 [
197 [
198 labeling or on another label attached to the container.
199 (2) [
200 for sowing into this state shall be labeled with the following information:
201 (a) name of the kind and variety for each seed component in excess of 5% of the whole
202 and the percentage by weight of each component in the order of its predominance in columnar
203 form, provided that:
204 (i) the label shall specify the name of the variety or state "Variety Not Stated" or
205 "VNS," for any component that is required by rule of the department to be labeled as a variety;
206 (ii) a hybrid shall be labeled as a hybrid;
207 (iii) the word "mix," " mixture," or "blend" shall appear, if more than one component is
208 required to be named; and
209 (iv) the total of the percentages described in Subsections (2)(a), (2)(d), [
210 and (2)(f) shall equal 100%;
211 (b) name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or the person who sells,
212 offers, or exposes the seed for sale in this state;
213 (c) lot number or other lot identification;
214 (d) percentage by weight of all weed seeds;
215 (e) percentage by weight of agricultural or crop seeds other than those named on the
216 label pursuant to Subsection (2)(a);
217 (f) percentage by weight of inert matter;
218 (g) name and rate of occurrence per pound of each kind of restricted noxious weed seed
219 present for which tolerance is permitted;
220 (h) origin, if known, of alfalfa, red clover, white clover, or field corn seed, except
221 hybrid corn, and, if the origin is unknown, that fact shall be stated;
222 (i) month and year seed tests were conducted for each named agricultural seed,
223 specifying:
224 (i) percentage of germination, exclusive of hard or dormant seed; and
225 (ii) percentage of hard or dormant seed, if present; and
226 (j) net weight.
227 [
228 [
229 [
230 [
231 [
232 [
233 [
234 or exposed for sale or transported for sowing into this state shall be labeled with the following
235 information:
236 (a) name of the kind and variety for each lawn and turf seed component in excess of
237 5% of the whole, and the percentage by weight of each component in the order of its
238 predominance in columnar form, provided that:
239 (i) the label shall specify the name of the variety or state "Variety Not Stated" or
240 "VNS," for any component that is required by rule of the department to be labeled as a variety;
241 (ii) a hybrid shall be labeled as a hybrid; and
242 (iii) the total of the percentages described in Subsections [
243
244 (b) name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or the person who sells,
245 offers, or exposes the seed for sale in this state;
246 (c) lot number or other lot identification;
247 (d) percentage by weight of all weed seeds;
248 (e) percentage by weight of agricultural or crop seeds other than those named on the
249 label pursuant to Subsection [
250 (f) percentage by weight of inert matter;
251 (g) name and rate of occurrence per pound of each kind of restricted noxious weed seed
252 present for which tolerance is permitted;
253 (h) month and year seed tests were conducted for each named lawn and turf seed,
254 specifying:
255 (i) percentage of germination, exclusive of hard or dormant seed; and
256 (ii) percentage of hard or dormant seed, if present;
257 (i) the word "mix," "mixture," or "blend," if more than one component is required to be
258 named; and
259 (j) net weight.
260 [
261 household plantings or vegetable seed preplanted in containers, mats, tapes, or other planting
262 devices shall be labeled with the following information:
263 (a) name of the kind and variety of seed, provided that a hybrid shall be labeled as a
264 hybrid;
265 (b) name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or the person who sells,
266 offers, or exposes the seed for sale in this state;
267 (c) (i) calendar month and year the germination test was completed and sell by date,
268 which may not be more than 12 months past the date of the germination test exclusive of the
269 month of test;
270 (ii) year for which the seed was packaged for sale, stated as "Packed for yy," [
271 year of the seed sell by date, stated as "Sell by yy"; or
272 (iii) calendar month and year the germination test was completed and the percentage
273 germination, provided that the germination test was completed within the previous 12 months
274 exclusive of the month of test;
275 (d) seed with germination less than the germination standard last established for the
276 seed by the department shall specify the:
277 (i) percentage of germination, exclusive of hard or dormant seed;
278 (ii) percentage of hard or dormant seed, if present; and
279 (iii) words "Below Standard" in not less than eight-point type;
280 (e) statement to indicate the minimum number of seeds in the container, if the seed are
281 placed in a germination medium, mat, tape, or other device that makes it difficult to determine
282 the quantity of the seed without removing the seed;
283 (f) lot number or other lot identification; [
284 (g) the word "mix," "mixture," or "blend," if more than one component is required to
285 be named[
286 (h) net weight.
287 [
288 following information:
289 (a) name of each kind and variety present in excess of 5% of the whole and the
290 percentage by weight of each in order of its predominance in columnar form, provided that a
291 hybrid shall be labeled as a hybrid;
292 (b) name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or the person who sells,
293 offers, or exposes the seed for sale in this state;
294 (c) lot number or other lot identification;
295 (d) month and year seed tests were conducted, for each named vegetable seed,
296 specifying the:
297 (i) percentage of germination, exclusive of hard or dormant seed; and
298 (ii) percentage of hard or dormant seed, if present;
299 (e) name and rate of occurrence per pound of each kind of restricted noxious-weed
300 seed for which tolerance is permitted; [
301 (f) the word "mix," "mixture," or "blend," if more than one component is required to be
302 named[
303 (g) net weight.
304 [
305 prepared for use in home flower gardens or household plantings or flower seed in preplanted
306 containers, mats, tapes, or other planting devices shall be labeled with the following
307 information:
308 (a) name of the kind and variety or a statement of type and performance characteristics
309 of the seed as prescribed by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
310 Administrative Rulemaking Act, provided that:
311 (i) a hybrid shall be labeled as a hybrid; and
312 (ii) the word "mix," "mixture," or "blend" shall appear, if more than one component is
313 required to be named;
314 (b) name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or the person who sells,
315 offers, or exposes the seed for sale in this state;
316 (c) (i) calendar month and year the germination test was completed and the sell by date,
317 which may not be more than 12 months past the date of the germination test exclusive of the
318 month of the test;
319 (ii) year for which the seed was packed for sale, stated as "Packed for yy," [
320 of the seed sell by date, stated as "Sell by yy"; or
321 (iii) calendar month and year the germination test was completed and percentage
322 germination, provided that the germination test was completed within the previous 12 months
323 exclusive of the month of the test;
324 (d) seed with germination less than the germination standard last established by the
325 department shall specify the:
326 (i) percentage of germination, exclusive of hard or dormant seed;
327 (ii) percentage of hard or dormant seed, if present; and
328 (iii) words "Below Standard" in not less than eight-point type; and
329 (e) statement to indicate the minimum number of seeds or net weight in the container,
330 if the seeds are placed in a germination medium, mat, tape, or other device that makes it
331 difficult to determine the quantity of seed without removing the seed.
332 [
333 in this state shall be labeled with the following information:
334 (a) name of the kind and variety or statement of the type and performance
335 characteristics of the seed as prescribed by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3,
336 Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, provided that:
337 (i) a hybrid shall be labeled as a hybrid; and
338 (ii) the word "mix," "mixture," or "blend" shall appear, if more than one component is
339 required to be named;
340 (b) genus and species of wildflower and the subspecies, if appropriate, of wildflower;
341 (c) name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or the person who sells,
342 offers, or exposes the seed for sale in this state;
343 (d) lot number or other lot identification;
344 (e) percentage of germination, exclusive of hard or dormant seed;
345 (f) percentage of hard or dormant seed, if present;
346 (g) calendar month and year that testing was completed to determine percentages
347 described in Subsections [
348 (h) net weight; and
349 [
350 percentage by weight of:
351 (i) each component listed in order of predominance;
352 (ii) weed seed if present; and
353 (iii) inert matter.
354 [
355 sale or transported for sowing into this state shall:
356 (a) bear a label as required by Subsection [
357 (i) each bag or other container is clearly identified by a lot number stenciled on the
358 container or the seed is in bulk; and
359 (ii) under a contractual agreement the seed may bear a label by invoice accompanying
360 the shipment or an analysis tag attached to the invoice; and
361 (b) bear on the label the following information:
362 (i) name of the seed and name of the subspecies, if appropriate;
363 (ii) scientific name of the genus and species and scientific name of the subspecies, if
364 appropriate;
365 (iii) name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or the person who sells,
366 offers, or exposes the seed for sale in this state;
367 (iv) lot number or other lot identification;
368 (v) information as to origin as follows:
369 (A) seed collected from a predominantly indigenous stand shall specify the area of
370 collection given by latitude and longitude, geographic description, or political subdivision such
371 as state or county; and
372 (B) seed collected from other than a predominantly indigenous stand shall specify
373 identity of the area of collection and the origin of the stand or state "origin not indigenous";
374 (vi) elevation or the upper and lower limits of elevation within which the seed was
375 collected;
376 (vii) purity as a percentage of pure seed by weight;
377 (viii) percentage of germination, exclusive of hard or dormant seed;
378 (ix) percentage of hard or dormant seed, if present; [
379 (x) calendar month and year the germination test was completed to determine
380 percentages described in Subsections [
381 (xi) the word "mix," "mixture," or "blend" shall appear, if more than one component is
382 required to be named; and
383 (xii) net weight.
384 [
385 transported for sowing into this state shall be labeled with the following information:
386 (a) name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or the person who sells,
387 offers, or exposes the seed for sale in this state;
388 (b) name of the kind or kinds in order of predominance;
389 (c) lot number or other identification;
390 (d) percentage by weight of each pure seed component in excess of 5% of the whole,
391 other crop seeds, inert matter, and weed seeds, if any;
392 (e) percentage of germination of each pure seed component, exclusive of hard or
393 dormant seed;
394 (f) percentage of hard or dormant seed, if present;
395 (g) calendar month and year the test was completed to determine percentages described
396 in Subsections [
397 [
398 (h) the word "mix," "mixture," or "blend," if more than one component is required to
399 be named[
400 (i) net weight.
401 [
402 (a) contain a minimum of 70% mulch;
403 (b) bear a label with the word "combination" followed by the words "mulch - seed -
404 fertilizer" on the upper 30% of the principal display panel, provided that the:
405 (i) word "combination" shall be the largest and most conspicuous type on the container
406 and equal to or larger than the product name; and
407 (ii) words "mulch - seed - fertilizer" shall be no smaller than one-half the size of the
408 word "combination" and in close proximity to the word "combination"; and
409 (c) bear an analysis label[
410 germination medium, mat, tape, or other device or mixed with mulch, specifying the following
411 information:
412 (i) name of each kind and variety;
413 (ii) product name;
414 (iii) lot number;
415 (iv) percentage by weight of pure seed of each kind and variety named, including those
416 less than 5% of the whole, provided that the total of the percentages described in Subsections
417 [
418 (v) percentage by weight of other crop seed;
419 (vi) percentage by weight of inert matter, which may not be less than 70%;
420 (vii) percentage by weight of weed seed;
421 (viii) name and number of noxious weed seed per pound, if present;
422 (ix) percentage of germination of each kind or kind and variety named;
423 (x) percentage hard or dormant seed, if appropriate;
424 (xi) date of germination test; [
425 (xii) name and address of tagger[
426 (xiii) net weight.
427 [
428 labeled with the following information:
429 (a) the word "combination" followed by the words "seed-fertilizer" on the upper 30%
430 of the principal display panel provided that:
431 (i) the word "combination" must be the largest and most conspicuous type on the
432 container and equal to or larger than the product name; and
433 (ii) the words "seed-fertilizer" shall be no smaller than one-half the size of the word
434 "combination" and in close proximity to the word "combination"; and
435 (b) an analysis label specifying the information listed in Subsection [
436 the percentage by weight of the fertilizer, listed on a separate line as a component of the inert
437 matter.
438 (12) Coated seed shall be labeled with the:
439 (a) information required by Subsections (2)(a) through (2)(e) and (2)(g);
440 (b) percentage by weight of pure seed exclusive of coating material;
441 (c) percentage by weight of coating material;
442 (d) percentage by weight of inert material exclusive of coating material; and
443 (e) percentage of germination, determined on 400 pellets with or without seed.