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  • Lester Cannon, Assistant Director, Seed Programs
    Louisiana Dept. of Agriculture & Forestry
    Seed Certification Division
    5825 Florida Blvd.
    Baton Rouge, LA 70806
    T: 225-925-4733
    F: 225-925-4124
    E: lester_c@ldaf.state.la.us

  • Mike Strain, Commissioner
    Louisiana Dept. of Agriculture & Forestry
    P.O. Box 631
    Baton Rouge, LA 70821
    T: 225-922-1234
    F: 225-922-1253


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

RELATIONSHIP TO RUSSL:
- Does your state seed law model RUSSL?
Answer = Yes

PERMIT/LICENSING REQUIREMENTS:
- Does your state law have a permit/license requirement for seedsmen to distribute seeds in your state?
Answer = YES, every person who sells, distributes, offers, or handles for sale agricultural, vegetable, or flower seed other propagating stock of one pound or more in weight shall register. Fees are $100/year per location.

ARBITRATION:
- Does your state offer "Seed Arbitration" as a 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 = NO
- How does your state handle seed coatings on your seed labels?
Answer = Seed coatings can be listed as part of inert matter as long as it is broken out somewhere on the label.

VARIETY LABELING:
- Does your state seed law require "mandatory" variety labeling for agricultural crop kinds?
Answer = YES, with the exception of "Pasture Wheat" or "Pasture Oats, VNS" (see below)

- Does your law allow for "variety not stated" labeling?
Answer = YES, Louisiana allows "Variety Not Stated" labeling for only wheat and oats.

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

- If the variety name 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

TEST DATE:
- What is the "TEST DATE" requirement for agricultural and vegetable seeds in your state?
Answer = Nine months exclusive of the month of test for all seeds, except twenty-four months for seeds packaged in hermetically-sealed containers.

OTHER SEED KINDS REGULATED:
- Describe your state's process for updating the noxious weed seed list:
Answer = Promulgation through administrative rules.

GMO REGULATIONS:
- Does your state law have any specific language regulating "GMOs"?
Answer =YES

- 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 - Louisiana requires special labeling for "coated" seeds.