2VAC5-390 Rules and Regulations for the Enforcement of the Virginia Seed Law

REGULATIONS

Vol. 25 Iss. 11 - February 02, 2009

TITLE 2. AGRICULTURE

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMERSERVICES

Chapter 390

Final Regulation

Title of Regulation: 2VAC5-390. Rules and Regulations for the Enforcement of the Virginia Seed Law (amending 2VAC5-390-20, 2VAC5-390-30, 2VAC5-390-40, 2VAC5-390-60, 2VAC5-390-70, 2VAC5-390-80, 2VAC5-390-100, 2VAC5-390-110, 2VAC5-390-120, 2VAC5-390-160, 2VAC5-390-170, 2VAC5-390-180).

Statutory Authority: § 3.2-4001 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: March 4, 2009.

Agency Contact: Robert E. Bailey, Program Manager, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone [phone], FAX [phone], TTY [phone], or email [e-mail].

Summary:

The amendments update citations to reflect the recodification of Title 3.1 to Title 3.2 of the Code of Virginia, which became effective October 1, 2008.

2VAC5-390-20. Noxious weed seeds.

Noxious weed seeds as defined in the Virginia Seed Law, Article 1 (§ 3.1-262 3.2-4000 et seq.) of Chapter 16 of Title 3.1 3.2 of the Code of Virginia are divided into two classes:

A. Prohibited noxious weed seeds are:

Balloonvine - Cardiospermum halicacabum

Canada thistle - Cirsium arvens

Field Bindweed - Convolvulus arvensis

Johnsongrass, Sorgrass and, Sorghum almum, and hybrids derived therefrom - Sorghum spp. - Perennial

Plumeless thistles, which includes Musk thistle, and Curled thistle - Carduus spp.

Quackgrass - Agropyron repens

Serrated tussock - Nassella trichotoma

Sicklepod - Cassia tora

B. Restricted noxious weed seeds are:

1. Restricted noxious weed seeds for agricultural and vegetable seed, except for lawn and turf seed and mixtures thereof, shall be prohibited from sale for seeding purposes if the number per ounce or per pound of such noxious weed seed found exceeds the limitations allowed for each. Such weed seeds and limitations shall be:

	KIND	LIMITATION
	Wild onion bulblets and wild garlic bulblets - Allium spp.	5 per ounce or 80 per pound for orchardgrass; 2 per ounce or 32 per pound for other kinds
	Dodder - Cuscuta spp.	4 per ounce or 64 per pound
	Wild mustard - Brassica spp. - includes species when incidentally occurring in agricultural seed, provided that species listed in §§ 5 and 9 of the regulations 2VAC5-390-50 and 2VAC5-390-90 may be sold as such when labeled as required.	5 per ounce all or 80 per pound
	Giant foxtail - Setaria faberi	4 per ounce or 64 per pound
	Radish - Raphanus spp.	1 per ounce or 16 per pound

2. Restricted noxious weed seeds for lawn and turf seed and mixtures thereof. Those kinds listed below shall be restricted noxious weed seeds and shall be declared on the label under the heading "Noxious weed seeds" or "Undesirable grass seed" according to § 3.1-264 (I) (5) 3.2-4008 J 5 when present in bentgrasses, Kentrucky bluegrass, chewings fescue, red fescue, hard fescue, varieties of perennial ryegrass, varieties of named turf type tall fescue, and/or mixtures containing these grasses. Such weed seeds are:

	Annual bluegrass	Poa annua
	**Bentgrasses (creeping, colonial, velvet)	Agrostis spp.
	**Bermudagrass, Giant bermudagrass	Cynodon spp.
	**Meadow fescue	Festuca pratensis
	Orchardgrass	Dactylis glomerata
	**Redtop	Agrostis gigantea
	**Rough bluegrass	Poa trivialis
	**Tall fescue	Festuca arundinacea
	Timothy	Phleum pratense
	Velvetgrass	Holcus lanatus
	**May be included as a labeled component of a mixture when in excess of 5.0% of the whole.

NOTE - EXEMPTIONS - This chapter does not apply to restricted noxious weed seeds in grasses or mixtures clearly labeled for pasture, forage, hay, or spoilbank reclamation usage.

2VAC5-390-30. Net weight requirements.

A. Net weight is required on all containers except on packets containing less than ½ ounce avoirdupois.

B. All net weight labeling shall be consistent with the requirements of the Virginia Weights and Measures Law, Chapter 35 56 (§ 3.1-919 3.2-5600 et seq.) of Title 3.1 3.2 of the Code of Virginia and the Virginia Weights and Measures regulations except that when a seed tag is used the net weight information may appear on the seed tag rather than on the seed bag.

2VAC5-390-40. Labeling treated seed.

A. Contents of label. All seed "treated" as defined by § 3.1-263 3.2-4000 of the Code of Virginia, shall be labeled in type no smaller than eight points to indicate that such seed has been treated and to show the name of any substance or a description of any process (other than application of a substance) used to treat such seed, for example:

Treated with -(Name of substance or process)

or -(Name of substance or process) treated.

If the substance used in such treatment in the amount remaining with the seed is harmful to humans or other vertebrate animals, the seed shall also bear a label containing statements as specified by subsections C and D below. The label shall contain the required information in any form that is clearly legible and complies with this chapter. The information may be on the analysis tag, on a separate tag, or printed on the container in a conspicuous manner.

B. Name of substance. The name of any substance as required by subsection A of this section shall be commonly accepted coined, chemical (generic), or abbreviated chemical name. Commonly accepted coined names are not private trademarks and are free for use by the public and are commonly recognized as names of particular substances such as thiram, captan, lindane, and dichlone. Examples of commonly accepted chemical (generic) names are: bluestone, calcium carbonate, cuprous oxide, zinc hydroxide, hexachlorobenzene and ethyl mercury acetate. The terms "mercury" or "mercurial" may be used to represent all types of mercurial compounds. Examples of commonly accepted abbreviated chemical names are: BHC (1,2,3,4,5,6, Hexachloroclolexane) and DDT (dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane)

C. Mercurials and similarly toxic substance.

1. Seeds treated with a mercurial or similarly toxic substance, if any amount whatsoever remains with the seed, shall be labeled to show a representation of a skull and crossbones at least twice the size of the type used for information required to be on the label under subsection A and shall also include in red letters on a background of distinctly contrasting color a statement substantially as follows: "Treated with Poison," "Poison treated," or "Poison." Such treatment shall appear in type no smaller than eight points.

2. Substances similarly toxic to mercurials include the following: Aldrin (technical); demeton; dieldrin; endrin; heptachlor; O, O-diethyl S-(ethylthiomethyl) phosphorodithiolate; and O, O-diethyl S-2 (ethylthio) ethyl phosphorodithiolate. Any amount of such substances remaining with the seed shall be considered harmful to humans and other vertebrate animals.

D. Other harmful substances. If any substance, other than one which would be classified as a mercurial or similarly toxic substance under subsection C., is used in the treatment of seed; the amount remaining with the seed is considered harmful to humans or other vertebrate animals unless the seed is in containers of four ounces or less. Seed treated with such substances shall be labeled with an appropriate caution statement in type no smaller than eight points worded substantially as follows: "Do not use for food," "Do not use for feed," "Do not use for oil purposes," or "Do not use for food, feed, or oil purposes." This subsection applies to all chemical substances not within subsection C. except that the following substances shall not be deemed harmful when present at a rate less than the number of parts per million indicated:

Allethrin - 2 p.p.m.

Malathion - 8 p.p.m.

Methoxyclor - 8 p.p.m.

Piperonyl butoxide - 20 p.p.m. except 8 p.p.m. on Oat and Sorghum.

Pyrethrins -- 3 p.p.m. except 1 p.p.m. on Oat and Sorghum.

E. Weight of treatment substance. When the weight of treatment substances added exceed 1.0% of the net weight of seed, the rate of treatment must be given on the analysis tag.

2VAC5-390-60. Weed seeds.

As provided by subdivision 1 f of § 3.1-265 I(A)(6) 3.2-4015 of the Code of Virginia, agricultural seed of the following kinds may contain weed seeds not to exceed the following limitations:

A. 1. Korean Lespedeza -- Lespedeza stipulacea 1.50%

B. 2. Orchardgrass -- Dactylis glomerata (Hulled) 1.50%

C. 3. Oatgrass, tall -- Arrhenatherum elatius 1.50%

D. 4. Redtop -- Agrostis gigantea 1.50%

2VAC5-390-70. Code designation.

As provided by § 3.1-264, subsections B paragraph (12)(b) and I(10)(b) § 3.2-4008 C 12 and J 10 of the Code of Virginia, any Virginia seed dealer may request from the commissioner a code designation to be used in lieu of his name and address for use on seed labeled for intrastate shipment provided; however, such shipments must be labeled to show the name and address of the consignee. Such designation will bear the prefix VDACS followed by an appropriate assigned number; however, a bona fide AMS (C&MS) number may be used in lieu of the VDACS code designation provided it is recorded with the commissioner by the seed dealer.

2VAC5-390-80. Controlled conditions.

Controlled conditions are those minimum field standards for certification last established by the State Certified Seed Board as authorized under Article 2, Chapter 16, 40 (§ 3.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 3.1 3.2 of the Code of Virginia.

2VAC5-390-100. Origin.

Origin as required by § 3.1-264(B)(4) 3.2-4008 C 4 of the Code of Virginia shall not apply to seed in lawn or turf grass mixtures in prepacked containers of fifty pounds or less; however, the formulator of such mixtures shall maintain origin records as required by § 3.1-266 3.2-4006 of the Code of Virginia.

2VAC5-390-110. Flower seed and minimum germination standards.

A. The kinds of flower seeds listed below are those for which standard testing procedures have been prescribed and which are, therefore, required to be labeled in accordance with the germination labeling provisions of §§ 3.1-263 3.2-4000 and 3.1-264 3.2-4008 of the Code of Virginia. The percentage listed opposite each kind is the germination standard for that kind. For the kinds marked with an asterisk, this percentage is the total of percentage germination and percentage hard seed. For other kinds, it is the percentage germination.

Kind		Minimum Germination Standard
African daisy--Dimorphotheca sinuata		55
Ageratum--Ageratum houstonianum		60
Alyssum--Alyssum compactum, A.Lobularia maritima, A.saxatile		60
Anemone--Anemone pulsatilla		55
Angel's trumpet--Brugmansia arborea		60
Arabis--Arabis alpina		60
Aster, China--Callistephus chinensis except Pompon, Powderpuff, and Princess types		55
Aster, China--Callistephus chinensis, Pompon, Powderpuff and Princess types		50
Aubrieta--Aubrieta deltoidea		45
Balsam--Impatiens balsamina		70
Calendula--Calendula officinalis		65
California poppy--Eschscholzia californica		60
Calliopsis--Corepsis tinctoria C. basalis		65
Campanula:
	Canterbury bells--Campanula medium	60
	Cup and Saucer bellflower--Campanula medium calycanthema	60
	Carpathian bellflower--Campanula carpatica	50
	Peach bellflower--Campanula persicifolia	50
Candytuft, annual--Iberis amara, I. umbellata		65
Candytuft, perennial--Iberis gibraltarica, I.sempervirens		55
*Castor bean--Ricinus communis		60
Cathedral bells--Cobaea scandens		65
Celosia--Celosia argentea		65
Centaurea: basket flower--entaurea americana, Cornflower--C. cyanus, dusty miller--C.cineraria royal centaurea--C. imperialis, sweet sultan, Amberboa moschata, Velvet centaurea--C. gymnocarpa		60
Chinese forget-me-not--Cynoglossum amabile		55
Chrysanthemum, annual--Chrysanthemum carinatum, C., coronarium, C.segetum		40
Clarkia--Clarkia unguiculata		65
Cleome--Cleome hassleriana		65
Columbine--Aquilegia spp.		50
Coral bells--Heuchera sanguinea		55
Coreopsis, perennial--Coreopsis lanceolata		40
Cosmos: Sensation, Mammoth and Crested type--Cosmos bipinnatus; Klondyke type--C. sulphureus		65
Dahlia--Dahlia spp		55
Delphinium: cardinal larkspur--perennial delphinuim--Delphinium cardinale; Pacific giant, gold metal and other hybrids, belladonna, bellamosum types, Chinensis types D.elatum		55
Dianthus:
	Carnation--Dianthus caryophyllus	60
	China pinks--Dianthus Chinensis, Heddewigii, Heddensis	70
	Grass pinks--Dianthus plumarius	60
	Maiden pinks--Dianthus deltoide	60
	Sweet William--Dianthus barbatu	70
	Sweet Wivelsfield--Dianthus X allwoodii	60
Dracena--Cordyline australis		55
English daisy--Bellis perennis		55
Foxglove--Digitalis spp.		60
Gaillardia, annual--Gaillardia pulchella, var.picta; perennial--G..aristata		45
Geum--Geum spp.		55
Gilia--Gilia spp.		65
Godetia--Clarkia amoena var. concinne		65
Gourds--Cucurbita spp.; Lagenaria spp.		70
Gypsophila: annual baby's breath--Gypsophila elegans; perennial baby's breath--G. paniculata, G. pacifica, G. repens		70
Helichrysum--Helichrysum bracteatum		60
*Hollyhock--Alcea rosea		65
*Ipomopa: Cypress vine--Ipomea quamoclit; Moonflower--I. alba; morning glories, cardinal climber, hearts and honey vine--I. spp.		75
Job's tears--Coix lacryma-jobi		70
Kochia--Kochia scoparia trichophylla		55
Larkspur, annual--Consolida ambigua		60
Lantana--Lantana camara		35
Linaria--Linaria spp.		65
Lobelia, annual--Lobelia erinus		65
Lunaria, annual--Lunaria annua		65
*Lupine--Lupinus spp.		65
Marigold--Tagetes spp.		65
Marvel of Peru--Mirabilis jalapa		60
Mighonette--Reseda odorata		55
Myosotis--Myosotis alpestris, M. oblongata, M. pulastris, M. scorpioides		50
Nasturtium--Tropaeolum spp.		60
Nemesia--Nemesia spp.		65
Nemophila--Nemophila menziesil subsp. insignis		70
Nicotiana--Nicotiana alata, N. X sanderae		65
Nierembergia--Nierembergia spp.		55
Nigella--Nigella damascena		55
Pansy--Viola tricolor		60
Penstemon--Penstemon barbatus, P. grandiflorus, P. laevigatus, P.hirsutus		60
Petunia--Petunia spp.		45
Phacelia--Phacelia campanularia, P. minor, P. tanace tifolia		65
Phlox, annual--Phlox drummondii all types and varieties		55
Physalis--Physalis spp.		60
Poppy: shirley poppy--Papaver rhoeas; Iceland poppy--P. nudicaule; oriental poppy--P. orientale; tulip poppy--P. glaucum		60
Portulaca--Portulaca grandiflora		55
Salpiglossis--Salpiglossis sinuata gloxiniiflora, S. salpiglossis		60
Salvia--Scarlet Sage--Salvia splendens; mealycup sage (blue bedder)--S. farinacea		50
Saponaria--Saponaria ocymoides, S. vaccaria pyramidata		60
Scabiosa, annual--Scabiosa atropurpurea		50
Scabiosa, perennial--Scabiosa caucasica		40
Schizanthus--Schizanthus spp.		60
Shasta Daisy--Chrysanthemum maximum, C. leucanthemum		65
Snapdragon--Antirrhinum spp.		55
Solanum--Solanum spp.		60
Stocks:Common--Matthiola incana; Evening Scented--Matthiola longipetala subsp. bicornis		65
Sunflower--Helianthus spp.		65
*Sweet pea, annual and perennial other than dwarf bush--Lathyrus odoratus, L. latifolius		75
*Sweet pea, dwarf bush--Lathyrus odoratus		65
Thunbergia--Thunbergia alata		60
Torch flower--Tithonia rotundifolia		70
Tritoma--Kniphofia spp.		65
Verbena, annual--Verbena X hybrida		35
Vinca--Catharanthus roseus		60
Viola--Viola cornuta		55
Wallflower--Cheiranthus cheiri		65
Zinnia--Zinnia angustifolia, Z. elegans, Z.grandiflora, Z. acerosa, Z. peruviana		50

B. Testing tolerances shall not be applied unless the percentage of germination is shown on the seed package or label attached to the seed container. If no germination percentage is shown on the label, the seed must meet the minimum standards without benefit of tolerance.

2VAC5-390-120. Labeling of flower seed.

Flower seeds shall be labeled with the name of the kind and variety or a statement of type and performance characteristics as prescribed by § 3.1-264(F) and (G) 3.2-4008 G and H of the Code of Virginia.

A. For seeds of plants grown primarily for their blooms:

1. Seeds of a single name variety shall be labeled to show the kind and variety name. For example -- "Marigold, Butterball."

2. Seeds of a single type and color for which there is no special variety name shall be labeled to show either the type of plant or the type and color of bloom. For example -- "Scabiosa, Tall, Large Flowered, Double, Pink."

3. Seeds consisting of an assortment or mixture of colors or varieties of a single kind, the kind name, the type of plant, and the type or types of bloom shall be indicated. In addition, it shall be clearly indicated that the seed is mixed or assorted. An example of labeling such a mixture or assortment is -- "Marigold, Dwarf double French, Mixed colors."

4. Seeds consisting of an assortment or mixture of kinds, shall clearly indicate that the seed is assorted or mixed and the specific use of the assortment or mixture shall be indicated. For example -- "Cut flower mixture," or "Rock garden mixture." Such statements as "Wild flower mixture," "General purpose mixture," "Wonder mixture," or any other statement which fails to indicate the specific use of the seed shall not meet the requirements of this provision unless the specific use of the mixture is also stated.

B. Seeds of plants grown for ornamental purposes other than their blooms shall be labeled to show the kind and variety, or the kind together with a descriptive statement concerning the ornamental part of the plant. For example -- "Ornamental gourds, Small fruited, Mixed."

2VAC5-390-160. Maximum percentage of inert matter.

Seed or seed mixtures as defined by § 3.1-263 3.2-4000 of the Code of Virginia shall not contain more than 15% by weight of inert matter, excluding coating material which has been added to enhance the planting value.

2VAC5-390-170. Minimum size of peanut seed.

Shelled peanuts for agricultural seed as defined in § 3.1-263 3.2-4000 of the Code of Virginia shall be a size of which 97% by weight of whole seed shall pass over a 16/64 inch screen and none shall pass through a 14/64 inch screen.

2VAC5-390-180. Minimum germination standard for peanut seed.

Peanuts for agricultural seed as defined in § 3.1-263 3.2-4000 of the Code of Virginia shall have a 75% minimum total germination. However, effective March 1, 2008, and continuing until July 1, 2008, the minimum total germination shall be 70%.

VA.R. Doc. No. R09-1710; Filed January 13, 2009, 11:25 a.m.