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.

Federal Seed Act
Long titleAn Act to regulate interstate and foreign commerce in seeds; to require labeling and to prevent misrepresentation of seeds in interstate commerce; to require certain standards with respect to certain imported seeds; and for other purposes.
Acronyms (colloquial)FSA
NicknamesFederal Seed Act of 1939
Enacted bythe 76th United States Congress
EffectiveFebruary 4, 1940
Citations
Public lawPub.L. 76–354
Statutes at Large53 Stat. 1275
Codification
Titles amended7 U.S.C.: Agriculture
U.S.C. sections created7 U.S.C. ch. 37 § 1551 et seq.
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the House as H.R. 5625 by Harry B. Coffee (D-NE) on May 3, 1939
  • Committee consideration by House Agriculture, Senate Agriculture & Forestry
  • Passed the House on June 7, 1939 (Passed)
  • Passed the Senate on August 1, 1939 (Passed) with amendment
  • House agreed to Senate amendment on August 3, 1939 (Agreed)
  • Signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 9, 1939

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

Amendments to 1939 Act

U.S. Congressional amendments to the Federal Seed Act.

Date of Enactment Public Law Number U.S. Statute Citation U.S. Legislative Bill U.S. Presidential Administration
July 9, 1956 P.L. 84-662 70 Stat. 508 S. 1688 Dwight D. Eisenhower
August 1, 1958 P.L. 85-581 72 Stat. 476 S. 1939 Dwight D. Eisenhower
October 15, 1966 P.L. 89-686 80 Stat. 975 H.R. 15662 Lyndon B. Johnson
October 17, 1969 P.L. 91-89 83 Stat. 134 S. 1836 Richard M. Nixon
January 8, 1983 P.L. 97-439 96 Stat. 2287 H.R. 7005 Ronald W. Reagan

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Congressional Research Service document: Jasper Womach. "Report for Congress: Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws, 2005 Edition" (PDF).

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