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  • Kate Nelson, Representative, Agricultural Commodities
    Connecticut Department of Agriculture
    Bureau of Inspection & Regulation
    165 Capitol Avenue
    Hartford, CT 06106
    T: 860-713-2565
    F: 860-713-2598
    E: kate.nelson@ct.gov

  • Dr. Sharon Douglas, Seed Laboratory Manager
    Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
    P.O. Box 1106
    New Haven, CT 06504-1106
    T: 203-974-8496
    F: 203-974-8502
    E: Sharon.Douglas@ct.gov

  • J. Philip Prelli, Commissioner
    Connecticut Department of Agriculture
    765 Asylum Avenue
    Hartford, CT 06105
    T: 860-713-2500
    F: 860-713-2514


The following responses are provided by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture in regard to general questions about the Connecticut State Seed Law.

RELATIONSHIP TO RUSSL:
- Does your state seed law model RUSSL?
Answer = YES, modeled after RUSSL, circa 1965 or so.

PERMIT/LICENSING REQUIREMENTS:
- Does your state law have a permit/license requirement for seedsmen to distribute seeds in your state?
Answer = YES, labelers license needed, at a fee of $50 per year.

ARBITRATION:
- Does your state offer "Seed Arbitration" as part of your seed law, or as a separate law?
Answer = NO

PRE-EMPTION LEGISLATION:
- Does your state have "pre-emption" legislation to restrict local political subdivisions from regulating seed?
Answer = NO

BRAND LABELING:
- Does your law allow for "brand name" labeling?
Answer = YES

VARIETY LABELING:
- Does your state allow for "variety not stated"?
Answer = YES

- Does your law allow for "variety unknown" labeling?
Answer = NO, not specifically

- If the variety is not declared on the label, does your law allow labeling by "crop kind" only?
Answer = NO

- Do you allow the use of the abbreviated term "VNS" to be used in place of the phrase "variety not stated"?
Answer = YES - Does your state allow abbreviations on the seed label?
Answer = YES
- How do you handle seed coatings on your seed label?
Answer = Seed coatings can be listed as part of inert matter as long as it is broken out somewhere on the label.

TEST DATE:
- What is the "TEST DATE" requirement for agricultural and vegetable seeds in your state?
Answer = 9 months

GMO REGULATIONS:
- Does your state law have any specific language regulating "GMOs"?
Answer = NO

- Does your state test for specific GMO varietal traits on official samples?
Answer = NO

UNIQUE (MISCELLANEOUS) REQUIREMENTS:
- Does your state seed law have any "unique" or special requirements and/or prohibitions?
Answer = YES, the origin of alfalfa, red clover, and field corn (except hybrid corn) must be stated.