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  • Chad Linton, Assistant Director
    WV Department of Agriculture
    Regulatory & Environmental Affairs Division
    1900 Kanawha Blvd., E.
    Charleston, WV 25305-0170
    T: 304-558-2227
    F: 304-558-3594
    E: clinton@wvda.us

  • Josh Arbaugh, Seed Analyst/Feed Microscopist
    WV Department of Agriculture
    1900 Kanawha Blvd., E.
    Charleston, WV 25305-0177
    T: 304-558-2227 Ext. 4050
    F: 304-558-3594
    E: jarbaugh@wvda.us

  • Brenda Keavey, Laboratory Assistant Director
    WV Department of Agriculture
    Regulatory & Environmental Affairs
    1900 Kanawha Blvd., E.
    Charleston, WV 25305-0170
    T: 304-558-2227
    F: 304-558-3594
    E: bkeavey@wvda.us

  • Walt D. Helmick, Commissioner
    WV Department of Agriculture
    1900 Kanawha Blvd., E.
    Charleston, WV 25305-0177
    T: 304-558-3550
    F: 304-558-2203
    E: whelmick@wvda.us


The following responses are provided by West Virginia Department of Agriculture in regard to general questions about the West Virginia 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, $125.00 annual registration of all seedsmen.

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 = YES

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

- How does your state handle seed coatings on your seed label?
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 = 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

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

TEST DATE:
- What is the "TEST DATE" requirement for agricultural and vegetable seeds in your state?
Answer = 9 months

- What is the germination test date requirement for turf 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