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1994 SESSION

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HB 1139 Virginia seed law.

Introduced by: John Watkins | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY:

Virginia seed law. Updates the Virginia seed law. Labeling and advertising requirements are expanded. Germination tests are to be completed every nine months rather than every year. The Commissioner is empowered to collect fees, adopt rules for the testing of seed, amend standards for seed and amend both the prohibited and restricted noxious-weed seed lists. The Board is authorized to (i) list seed kinds to be sold by variety name only, (ii) require labeling of seed produced from transgenetic plant material, and (iii) adopt a list of those kinds having a second hybrid that have agronomic value. An "assessment" provision is added as a method to penalize those who sell seed that is not within the labeled testing tolerance. Persons aggrieved by actions of the Commissioner may seek review under the APA. If the Commissioner considers a violation of the seed law to be minor he is empowered to issue a written notice in lieu of reporting the violation for prosecution. Registration fees and provisions for lawn and turf seed are increased. A license to market seed is required. Growers who market their own seed and have less than $1,000 in sales during the previous year are exempted from purchasing a license. Inspection fees are established, 50 percent of which is to go to the Virginia Agricultural Foundation Fund for use in funding lawn and turf research. All fees, penalties and assessments shall be paid into a dedicated, newly created, special fund in the state treasury to be known as the "seed fund" to the credit of the Department.


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