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

VARIETY LABELING
Does your state allow for "Variety Not Stated" labeling?
Answer = YES

Does your law allow for "variety unknown" labeling?
Answer = NO

If the variety is not declared on the label, does your law allow labeling by "crop kind" only?
Answer = YES

Do you allow the use of the abbreviated term "VNS" to be used in place of the phrase "variety not stated"?
Answer = NO

ARBITRATION
Does your state offer "Seed Arbitration" as part of your seed law, or as a separate law?
Answer = YES, seed arbitration is a separate law. The Illinois Seed Arbitration Act and Rules has been in effect since 1996.

If yes, is it mandatory?
Answer = YES

Do you allow the use of the arbitration label notice as referenced in RUSSL?
Answer = Yes, however, since ours is a mandatory law for all seed transactions, dealers do not have an option for participation; therefore, we do not require that any arbitration information be placed on a label.

Does your arbitration law have any unique or special requirements?
Answer = NO

PRE-EMPTION LEGISLATION
Does your state have "pre-emption" legislation to restrict local political subdivisions from regulating seed?
Answer = NO, not at this time. The Illinois Seed Trade Association is in the process of drafting seed pre-emption legislation and obtaining sponsors in both the Illinois House and Senate to introduce this legislation in 2007.

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

PERMIT / LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
Does your state law have a permit/license requirement for seedsmen to distribute seeds in your state?
Answer = YES, a permit is required by anyone whose name or address is on the label, anyone opening a bag and selling partial, or anyone distributing seed into the State of Illionois. Retail dealer $10.00; wholesale dealer $30.00; seed broker $30.00; seed merchant (Combination retail and wholesale) $40.00; public auction $30.00.

TEST DATE
What is the "TEST DATE" requirement for agricultural and vegetable seeds in your state?
Answer = 12 months.

GMO REGULATIONS
Does your state law have any specific language regulating "GMO's"?
Answer = NO

Does your state test for specific GMO varietal traits on official samples?
Answer = YES, Roundup Ready, BT

RELATIONSHIP TO RUSSL
Does your state seed law model RUSSL?
Answer = YES, it is not 100% but very close to RUSSL recommendations.

UNIQUE (MISCELLANEOUS) REQUIREMENTS
Does your state seed law have any "unique" or special requirements and/or prohibitions?
Answer = NO