Washington, DC. USA
June 2, 2011
June 2, 2011 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has amended the Federal Seed Act (FSA) regulations. Amendments to the FSA regulations include: update the nomenclature of some agricultural and vegetable seeds listed per current usages on the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature; amend the list of prohibited noxious-weed seeds; update the seed testing regulations to reflect improvements in seed testing technology and methods; update the noxious-weed seed tolerances; update the seed certification regulations; and clarify the labeling requirements for seed treated with the most toxic class of chemical compounds.
These updates are periodically needed in order to maintain consistency with other federal and state agencies, as well as changes in industry practice.
“Ultimately, the harmonizing of state and federal testing procedures reduces the burden on small entities shipping seed in interstate commerce by allowing the same test to meet regulatory requirements for inter- and intra-state shipments,” said Dr. Richard Payne, AMS Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch Chief.
The final rule will be published in the June 2, 2011, Federal Register. The final rule will be effective July 5, 2011.
For more information, contact Dr. Richard C. Payne, Chief, Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch, Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA, 801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite C, Gastonia, N.C. 28054-2193; telephone (704) 810-8884; fax (704) 852-4109; or richard.payne@ams.usda.gov.
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