Federal Seed Act

The Federal Seed Act, P.L. 76-354 (August 9, 1939), requires accurate labeling and purity standards for seeds in commerce, and prohibits the importation and movement of adulterated or misbranded seeds. The law works in conjunction with the Plant Protection Act of 2000 to authorize the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to regulate the importation of field crop, pasture and forage, or vegetable seed that may contain noxious weed seeds. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is responsible for enforcing the labeling and purity standard provisions.

Titles of the Act
Title 7 Chapter 37 was authored as four titles establishing agricultural policy for the specifications of forage and vegetable seeds.


 * Title I - Definitions - 7 U.S.C. §§ 1561-1562
 * Construction with respect to labeling for variety and origin
 * Agricultural seeds
 * Vegetable seeds
 * Weed seeds
 * Noxious weed seeds
 * Origin, kind, variety, and type of seeds
 * Germination
 * Hard seeds
 * Pure live seed
 * Label and labeling of seeds
 * Advertisement
 * Subject to prescribed tolerances
 * False labeling and false advertisement
 * Screenings
 * In bulk


 * Title II - Interstate Commerce - 7 U.S.C. §§ 1571-1575
 * Prohibitions Relating to Interstate Commerce in Certain Seeds
 * Records
 * Exemptions
 * Disclaimers and Nonwarranties
 * False Advertising


 * Title III - Foreign Commerce - 7 U.S.C. §§ 1581-1586
 * Prohibitions and Procedures Relating to Importations
 * Adulterated Seed
 * Seed Unfit for Seeding Purposes
 * Certain Seeds Required to be Stained
 * Certain Acts Prohibited


 * Title IV - General Provisions - 7 U.S.C. §§ 1591-1610
 * Delegation of Duties
 * Rules and Regulations
 * Standards, Tests, and Tolerances
 * Prohibition Against Alterations
 * Seizure
 * Penalties
 * Cease and Desist Proceedings
 * Separability of Proceedings
 * Publication
 * Authorization for Appropriations
 * Authorization for Expenditures
 * Cooperation
 * Separability of Provisions
 * Repeals
 * Effective Date