G/TBT/N/USA/608/Rev.2  
29 January 2020  
(20-0679) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
Revision  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AME RICA 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS); Department of Agriculture 
(USDA)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notific ation shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [   ], other :   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading.  ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Plant 
seeds; Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or 
medicinal p lants; straw and fodder (HS 12); Quality (ICS 03.120), Biology. Botany. 
Zoology (ICS 07.080), Farming and forestry (ICS 65.020)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Revisions to the 
Federal Seed Act Regulations (12 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites comments on 
proposed revisions to regulations that implement the Federal Seed Act (FSA). The 
proposals include revisions to seed labeling, testing, and certification r equirements. The 
proposed revisions would add certain seed species to the lists of covered kinds of seed and 
update the lists to reflect current scientific nomenclature; update regulations related to 
seed quality, germination and purity standards, and acce ptable seed testing methods; and 
update seed certification and recertification requirements, including new eligibility 
standards and the recognition of current breeding techniques. AMS intends to align FSA 
regulations with current industry practices, harmo nize FSA testing methods with industry 
standards, and clarify confusing or contradictory language in the existing regulations. AMS 
expects the proposed revisions to reduce trade burden associated with interstate seed 
commerce and encourage compliance with State and Federal laws.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Consumer information, labelling; Quality requirements; Harmonization; 
Reducing trade barriers and facilitating trade   
8. Relevant documents:   
•  85 Federal Register (FR) 4603, 27 January 2020; 7 CFR Parts 201 and 202:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-01-27/html/2020 -00400.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-01-27/pdf/2020 -00400.pdf  G/TBT/N/ USA/608/Rev.2  
 
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  9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  27 March 2020  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone or fax 
numbers  and email and website address es, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/USA/20_0657_00_e.pdf