LABELING & DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION SURVEY

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

VARIETY LABELING
Does your state seed law require "mandatory" variety labeling for agricultural crop kinds?
Answer = YES, for the crops of cotton, field corn, peanuts, soybeans, tobacco and wheat

Does your law allow for "variety not stated" labeling?
Answer = YES, for rye, barley, and oats, and any kinds not listed above

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

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

Does your state seed law allow labeling by "crop kind" only?
Answer = NO

ARBITRATION
Does your state offer "Seed Arbitration" as a part of your seed law, or as a separate law?
Answer = YES

If yes, is it mandatory?
Answer = NO

Do you allow the use of the "arbitration label notice" as referenced in RUSSL?
Answer = YES

PRE-EMPTION LEGISLATION
Does your state have “pre-emption” legislation to restrict local political subdivisions from regulating seed?
Answer = NO, but Pre-Emption bill 671 has passed the House and is pending in the Senate for review 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, the seedsman must keep proper records and report quarterly seed offered for sale and fees paid. Fees are as follows: Wholesale ($100) <$500 ($5) >$500<$1000 ($15) >$1000 ($25) $.02 all seed over 10 lb.

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 "GMO’s"?
Answer = NO

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

RELATIONSHIP TO RUSSL
Does your state seed law model RUSSL?
Answer = YES

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