WAC 16-301-015   Seed labeling requirements for agricultural, vegetable, and flower seeds.  (1) Each container of agricultural, vegetable or flower seeds, that is sold, offered or exposed for sale, or transported within this state for sowing purposes, must bear or have attached to the container a plainly written or printed label or tag in the English language; and

     (a) The label provides information required in WAC 16-301-060 through 16-301-085 on treated seeds in addition to the information required in subsection (2) of this section; and

     (b) The label is placed in a conspicuous manner on the seed container; and

     (c) The printed label or tag is not modified or denied in the labeling or on any label attached to the seed container.

     (2) Each container of agricultural, vegetable or flower seeds, that is sold, offered or exposed for sale, or transported within this state for sowing purposes must bear "Requirement for arbitration - The Washington State Seed Act, chapter 15.49 RCW, requires mandatory arbitration of disputes involving allegedly defective seed. See chapter 16-301 WAC or contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Seed Program, 509-249-6950," on:

     (a) The analysis tag; or

     (b) A separate tag or label attached securely to each container; or

     (c) Printed in a conspicuous manner on the side of each container; or

     (d) Alternate wording may be approved in writing by the department to meet the needs of the industry.

     (3) Except for grass seed mixtures, and hybrids that contain less than ninety-five percent hybrid seed, the label for agricultural seeds must contain the following information:

     (a) The name of the kind and variety of each agricultural seed present in excess of five percent of the whole and the percentage by weight of each or if the variety is not listed with the certifying agency, the name of the kind and the words, "variety not stated." Hybrids must be labeled as hybrids; and

     (b) The lot number or other lot identification; and

     (c) The origin state or foreign country, if known. If the origin is not known, that fact shall be stated on the label; and

     (d) The percentage, by weight, of all weed seeds present. The maximum weed seed content may not exceed two percent by weight; and

     (e) The name and rate of occurrence in seeds per pound of each kind of restricted noxious weed seed present; and

     (f) The percentage by weight of agricultural seeds, which may be designated as "crop seeds," other than those required to be named on the label; and

     (g) The percentage by weight of inert matter; and

     (h) The percentage of seed germination, exclusive of hard seed, and the percentage of hard seed, if present, or "total germination and hard seed" as a single percentage; and

     (i) The calendar month and year the seed germination test was completed to determine such percentages; and

     (j) The name and address of the person who labels, sells, offers, or exposes for sale seed within this state.

     (4) For seed that is coated the label must also contain the following:

     (a) The percentage of pure seed with coating material removed;

     (b) The percentage of coating material shown as a separate item in close association with the percentage of inert material;

     (c) The percentage of germination as determined on four hundred coated seed pellets, with or without seeds.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.310 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 11-19-014, § 16-301-015, filed 9/8/11, effective 10/9/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, 15.49.081, 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3) and chapter 17.24 RCW. 00-24-077, § 16-301-015, filed 12/4/00, effective 1/4/01.]