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  • Stephanie Smith, Deputy Director
    Public Health and Ag Resource Management
    Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
    Ag Resource & Environmental Stewardship Division
    116 State Street
    Montpelier, VT 05620-2901
    T: 802-661-8051
    E: stephanie.smith@vermont.gov

  • Jill M.G. Chapleau Goss, Feed, Seed & Fertilizer Specialist
    Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
    116 State Street, Drawer 20
    Montpelier, VT 05620-2901
    T: 802-505-3263
    E: jill.goss@vermont.gov

  • Steve Dwinell, Director
    Public Health and Ag Resource Management
    Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
    Ag Resource & Environmental Stewardship Division
    116 State Street
    Montpelier, VT 05620-2901
    T: 802-522-6973
    E: steve.dwinell@vermont.gov



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

RELATIONSHIP TO RUSSL:
- Does your state seed law model RUSSL?
Answer = YES, as much as possible.

PERMIT/LICENSING REQUIREMENTS:
- Does your state law have a permit/license requirement for seedsmen to distribute seeds in your state?
Answer = YES, an annual registration is required. Cost: $75/ year plus $0.35/hundred weight for containers larger than 10 lbs.

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

- Does your state have "arbitration" legislation in place to arbitrate disputes between buyer and seller?
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 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 = YES

- 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 seed law allow labeling by "crop kind" only?
Answer = YES

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 = NO