| Seed Control Official: | ||
Ed Price | Kelly Book, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Texas Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 12847 Austin, TX 78711 Phone: 512-463-7136 Fax: 512-463-8225 E-mail: Kbook@texasagriculture.gov |
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| Todd Staples, Commissioner Texas Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 12847 Austin, TX 78711 Phone: 512-463-4578 Fax: 512-463-1104 |
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REFERENCE LINKS for Texas:
Texas Department of Agriculture Home Page
www.agr.state.tx.us
The following responses are provided by the Texas Department Agriculture in regard to general questions about the Texas State Seed Law.
VARIETY LABELING
Does your state seed law require "mandatory" variety labeling for agricultural crop kinds?
Answer = NO
Does your law allow for "variety not stated" labeling?
Answer = YES
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 = YES, but do not prefer
Does your state seed law allow labeling by "crop kind" only?
Answer = NO, The following kinds must be labeled by variety or show "variety not stated": alfalfa, bahiagrass, barley, field bean, field beet, pop corn, cotton, cowpea, crambe, tall fescue, flax, striate lespedeza , foxtail millet, pearl millet, oat, field pea, peanut, rice rye, safflower, sorghum, sorghum-sudangrass, soybean, sudangrass, sunflower, tobacco, birdsfoot trefoil, triticale, and wheat.
ARBITRATION
Does your state offer "Seed Arbitration" as a part of your seed law, or as a separate law?
Answer = YES, but as a separate law
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
PERMIT / LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
Does your state law have a permit /license requirement for seedsmen to distribute seeds in your state?
Answer = YES, Agricultural seed has two options: to be on a quarterly reporting system or to buy "Texas Tested Seed Fee Labels from Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Vegetable vendor must purchase a yearly license. Agricultural - $.06/100 lbs.for the Reporting System, $.03/label for each 100 pound container or fraction thereof for "Texas Tested Seed Fee Labels" Vegetables - $100/year
TEST DATE
What is the "TEST DATE" requirement for agricultural and vegetable seeds in your state?
Answer = Agricultural seed - 9 months, Vegetable seed – 12 months
If yes, is it mandatory?
Answer = NO
Do you allow the use of the "arbitration label notice" as referenced in RUSSL?
Answer = YES
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, as much as possible
UNIQUE (MISCELLANEOUS) REQUIREMENTS
Does your state seed law have any "unique" or special requirements and/or prohibitions?
Answer = NO
Dr. Richard Payne
The USDA Federal Seed Regulatory Testing Division has announced that Dr. Richard Payne will be retiring at the end of 2011. He has served the Federal Government for more than 36 years and has been a tremendously valuable resource for virtually every state seed control official.
USDA Director
Fed.l Seed Reg. Testing Division
MORE INFORMATION
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Larry Nees, Secretary
Telephone: 765-494-1557
E-mail: neesl@purdue.edu
Melinda Walsh, Webmaster
E-mail: walshm@purdue.edu
