Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/WVCODE/code.cfm?chap=19&art=16
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 11:07:22+00:00

Document:
§19-16-2. Label requirements for agricultural crops, lawn and turf, vegetable, tree and shrub seeds and seed potatoes.
§19-16-3. Certificate of registration; seed fees; payment of fees; disposition of funds.
§19-16-3a. Industrial hemp seed certification program; requirements; fees; rulemaking.
§19-16-6. Duties and authority of Commissioner of Agriculture.
§19-16-7. Stop sale orders or embargo; seizure.
(a) "Agricultural seed" includes forage seeds (grasses and legumes), tobacco, soybeans, cereal, oil, fiber, and other kinds of crop seeds commonly recognized within this state as agricultural seeds, lawn and turf seeds and combinations of those seeds, and may include noxious weed seeds when the commissioner determines that the seed is being used as agricultural seed.
(b) "Blend" means seed consisting of more than one variety of a kind, each in excess of five percent by weight of the whole.
(c) "Brand" means a word, name, symbol, number, design or device, or any combination thereof, identifying the seed of one person and distinguishing it from all others.
(d) "Bulk" means seed when loose in vehicles of transportation or in storage, or in retail displays and not in seed bags or other containers.
(e) "Certifying agency" means: (1) An agency authorized under the laws of a state, territory or possession to officially certify seed and which has standards and procedures approved by the United States Secretary of Agriculture to assure the genetic purity and identity of the seed certified; or (2) an agency of a foreign country determined by the United States Secretary of Agriculture to adhere to procedures and standards for seed certification comparable to those adhered to generally by seed certifying agencies under subdivision (1) of this subsection.
(f) "Coated" means a seed unit covered with any substance which changes the size, shape or weight of original seed. Seeds coated with ingredients, such as, but not limited to, rhizobia, dyes and pesticides, are not considered coated seeds.
(g) "Commissioner" refers to the Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of West Virginia or a duly authorized employee.
(h) "Complete record" means any and all information which relates to the origin, treatment, germination, purity, kind and variety of each lot of agricultural seed sold in this state, or which relates to the treatment, germination, kind and variety of each lot of vegetable, or tree and shrub seed sold in this state. The information shall include seed samples and records of declarations, labels, purchases, sales, conditioning, bulking, treatment, handling, storage, analyses, tests and examinations.
(i) "Conditioning" means drying, cleaning, scarifying and other operations which may change the purity or germination of the seed and require the seed lot to be retested to determine the label information.
(j) "Dealer" means any person who exclusively sells, exposes for sale, offers for sale, exchanges or barters seed for sowing purposes within this State to the ultimate consumer.
(k) "Distribute" means to offer for sale, sell, expose for sale, exchange or barter seed for sowing purposes within the State.
(l) "Distributor" means any person who sells, exposes for sale, offers for sale, exchanges, barters, gives, parcels out, allots, shares or dispenses a seed for sowing purposes within the State.
(m) "Dormant" means viable seed, excluding hard seed, which fail to germinate when provided the specified germination conditions for the kind of seed in question.
(n) "Genuine growers declaration" means a statement signed by the grower which gives for each lot of seed the lot number, kind, variety (if known), origin, weight, year of production, date of shipment and to whom the shipment was made.
(o) "Germination" means the emergence and development from the seed embryo of those essential structures which, for the kind of seed in question, are indicative of the ability to produce a normal plant under favorable conditions.
(p) "Hard seeds" means seeds which remain hard at the end of the prescribed test period because they have not absorbed water due to an impermeable seed coat.
(q) "Hybrid" means the first generation seed of a cross produced by controlling the pollination and by combining: (1) Two or more inbred lines; (2) one inbred or a single cross with an open pollinated variety; or (3) two varieties or species, except open-pollinated varieties of corn (Zea mays). The second generation of subsequent generations from the crosses shall not be regarded as hybrids. Hybrid designations shall be treated as variety names.
(r) "Inert matter" means all matter not seed, which includes, but is not limited to, broken seeds, sterile florets, chaff, fungus bodies and stones as determined by methods defined by rule.
(s) "Kind" means one or more related species or subspecies which singly or collectively is known by one common name, for example, corn, oats, alfalfa and timothy.
(t) "Label" means a display of written, printed or graphic matter affixed to the container or package in which seed is distributed; or affixed to the invoice, delivery slip or other shipping document which accompanies bulk lots of seed. All labels shall be legible and in English.
(u) "Labeling" means all written, printed, or graphic matter or advertisement referencing the seed.
(v) "Lot" means a definite quantity of seed identified by a lot number, code number or other mark, every portion or bag of which is uniform within recognized tolerances for the factors which appear on the label.
(w) "Mixture", "mix", or "mixed" means seed consisting of more than one kind, each in excess of five percent by weight of the whole.
(x) "Mulch" means a protective covering of any suitable substance placed with seed which acts to retain sufficient moisture to support seed germination and sustain early seedling growth and aid in the prevention of the evaporation of soil moisture, the control of weeds and the prevention of erosion.
(2) The term "restricted noxious weed seeds or undesirable grass seed" are those weed seeds which are objectionable in agricultural crops, lawns and gardens of this State and which can be controlled by good cultural practices or the use of herbicides.
(z) "Off type" means any seed or plant not a part of the variety in that it deviates in one or more characteristics from the variety as described and may include: A seed or plant of another variety; a seed or plant not necessarily any variety; a seed or plant resulting from cross-pollination by another kind or variety; a seed or plant resulting from uncontrolled self pollination during production of hybrid seed; or segregates from any of the off types set forth in this subsection.
(aa) "Official sample" means any sample of seed taken by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this article and rules promulgated under this article.
(bb) "Origin" for an indigenous stand of trees means the area on which the trees are growing; for a nonindigenous stand, it is the place from which the seeds or plants were originally introduced.
(cc) "Other crop seed" means seed of plants grown as crops (other than the kind or variety included in the pure seed) as determined by methods defined by rule.
(dd) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, company, association, receiver, trustee, agent, fiduciary, firm or any group of organized persons whether incorporated or not.
(ee) "Pure seed" means seed exclusive of inert matter and all other seeds not of the seed being considered as determined by methods defined by rule.
(ff) "Registrant" means any person who registers as a seedsman in order to distribute seed for sowing purposes within the State.
(gg) "Seed potato" refers to the Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) which must grade equal to or better than the minimum requirements of U.S. No. 1, from the standpoint of physical defects, size or disease, and must be certified by an official certifying agency.
(hh) "Seizure" means a legal process carried out by court order against a definite amount of seed.
(ii) "Stop sale or embargo" means an administrative order provided by this article, restraining the sale, use, disposition and movement of a definite amount of seed.
(jj) "Treated" means that the seed has received an application of a substance, or that it has been subjected to a process for which a claim is made.
(kk) "Tree and shrub seeds" includes seeds of woody plants commonly known and sold as tree and shrub seeds in this State.
(ll) "Tree seed collector"s declaration" means a statement signed by a grower or person having knowledge of the place of collection giving, for a lot of seed, the lot number, common or scientific name of the species (and subspecies, if appropriate), origin, elevation, and quantity of tree and shrub seed.
(mm) "Type" means a group of varieties so nearly similar that the individual varieties cannot be clearly differentiated except under special conditions.
(nn) "Variant" means any seed or plant which: (A) Is distinct within the variety but occurs naturally in the variety; (B) is stable and predictable with a degree of reliability comparable to other varieties of the same kind, within recognized tolerances, when the variety is reproduced or reconstituted; and (C) was originally a part of the variety as released. A variant is not an off-type.
(oo) "Variety" means a subdivision of a kind which is distinct, uniform and stable.
(1) "Distinct" means that the variety can be differentiated by one or more identifiable morphological, physiological or other characteristics from all other varieties of public knowledge.
(2) "Uniform" means that the variations in essential and distinctive characteristics are describable.
(3) "Stable" means that the variety will remain unchanged in its essential and distinctive characteristics and its uniformity when reproduced or reconstituted as required by the different categories of varieties.
(pp) "Vegetable or herb seeds" includes the seeds of those crops which are grown in gardens or on truck farms and are generally known and sold under the name of vegetable or herb seeds in this State.
(qq) "Weed seed" means the seeds of all plants generally recognized as weeds within this State, as determined by methods defined by rule, and includes the categories of prohibited noxious weed seeds and restricted noxious weed seeds.
Each container of agricultural or vegetable seeds which is distributed or transported within this state for sowing purposes shall bear on the container or have attached to the container in a conspicuous place a plainly written or printed label or tag in the English language.
(4) The date beyond which the inoculant is not to be considered effective (date of expiration), if the seed is treated with an inoculant.
(9) The name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or who distributes the seed within this state.
(9) The name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or who distributes the seed within the State.
(4) Percentage of germination, to be determined on 400 pellets with or without seeds.
(4) The name and address of the person who labeled the seed or who distributes the seed for sale within this State.
(3) The words "Germination Below Standard" in not less than eight-point type.
(g) For seeds placed in a germination medium, mat, tape or other device in such a way as to make it difficult to determine the quantity of seed without removing the seeds from the medium, mat, tape or device, a statement to include the minimum number of seeds in the container.
(4) The name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or who distributes the seed within this State.
(3) Varieties in which the pure seed contain less than seventy-five percent hybrid seed which shall not be labeled as hybrids.
(I) The name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or who distributes the seed within this State.
(l) The labeling requirements for agricultural, and vegetable seeds shall be considered to have been met if the seed is weighed from a properly labeled bulk container in the presence of the purchaser.
(m) Once a dealer has broken the seal on a container of seed for any reason, the dealer is fully responsible for its contents including the guarantees for purity, germination rate and anything else pertaining to the integrity of the opened seed container.
Each container of tree and shrub seed which is distributed or transported within this state for sowing purposes shall bear on the container or have attached on the container in a conspicuous place a plainly written or printed statement on the label or tag in the English language, giving the information required under this subsection. The statement may not be modified or denied in the labeling or on another label attached to the container — except that labeling of seed supplied under a contractual agreement may be by invoice accompanying the shipment or by an analysis tag attached to the invoice if each bag or other container is clearly identified by a lot number stenciled on the container, or if the seed is in bulk. Each bag or container that is not identified shall carry complete labeling.
(ii) For seed collected from other than a predominantly indigenous stand, the area of collection and the origin of the stand or the statement "Origin not Indigenous;"
(I) The name and address of the person who labeled the seed or who distributes the seed within this State.
(C) The name and address or identification number of the grower of such seed potatoes.
(a) No person may distribute any agricultural, vegetable, tree and shrub seeds or seed potatoes without a valid certificate of registration issued by the commissioner. Application forms shall be provided by the commissioner and the application fee shall be set forth in a legislative rule. Each certificate of registration expires on the thirty-first day of December following the next date of issue. A dealer may not be required to register, if he or she can prove that the person he or she is obtaining the seed from has a valid certificate of registration.
(b) A person shall apply for a certificate of registration at least fifteen days prior to the expiration of the current registration; or at least fifteen days prior to the date that the person intends to engage in business in this State. Each application shall be accompanied by the required application fee. The commissioner shall add a penalty of two dollars to the fee for each registration that is not applied for or renewed within the time limit.
(c) Certificates of registration are not transferable with respect to persons or locations.
(d) The commissioner may refuse to grant, or may suspend or revoke a certificate of registration when it is determined that the applicant or registrant has violated the provisions of this article or any rule promulgated under this article: Provided, That the applicant or registrant may request a hearing prior to the denial of the application or suspension or revocation of the registration.
(e) Each person who holds a valid certificate of registration is required to pay a tonnage fee on seed sold in this state and shall report to the commissioner the net pounds or kilograms of seeds distributed and sold by kind or variety, except for seed potatoes, on a semiannual basis. Each report shall be filed under oath and is due before the thirty-first day of January and July of each year for the preceding six-month period. He or she shall pay the tonnage fee according to the fee schedule for agriculture, vegetable, tree and shrub seeds as set by legislative rules.
(f) Persons distributing vegetable seeds packaged in containers of eight ounces or 226.8 grams or less and sold from display units are exempt from reporting poundage and paying a poundage fee: Provided, That a seed stamp be purchased from the commissioner, at the rate set by legislative rules, and placed in a conspicuous place on each display unit.
(g) Persons first distributing seed potatoes into West Virginia trade channels shall report to the commissioner the net pounds or kilograms of seed potatoes distributed during the first six months of the year. The report and appropriate fee is due by the thirty-first day of July as set by legislative rules.
(h) A person who holds a valid certificate of registration shall keep accurate records, as may be necessary or required by the commissioner, to indicate the pounds of agricultural, vegetable, or tree and shrub seeds or seed potatoes distributed in this State.
(i) All fees and penalties collected under the provisions of this article shall be deposited with the State Treasurer in a special revenue account. These moneys shall be expended by the Commissioner of Agriculture for inspection, sampling, analysis and other expenses necessary for the administration of this article.
(a) The commissioner may create and administer an industrial hemp seed certification program to obtain and develop varieties of seeds which meet the purposes and provisions of §19-12E-1 et seq. of this code. The program shall be consistent with this article and applicable federal law. This program may include West Virginia landrace cannabis seed varieties. For the purposes of this article, "West Virginia landrace cannabis seed" means seed from the plant cannabis sativa that possesses characteristics of a unique and specialized cannabis seed variety that is present in West Virginia or has been recognized as produced in West Virginia.
(b) Persons or entities, licensed pursuant to §19-12E-1 et seq. of this code, may obtain a license for the development of industrial hemp varieties for certification. The commissioner may assess a fee, consistent with the provisions of §19-12E-7 of this code, to operate and administer the seed certification program. The fees shall be deposited in the Agricultural Fees Fund established by §19-1-4c of this code.
(c) The commissioner may promulgate emergency rules and shall propose rules for legislative approval pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this section.
(8) Labeled with a variety name but not certified by an official seed certifying agency when it is a variety for which a U. S. certificate of plant variety protection under the Plant Variety Protection Act specifies sale only as a class of certified seed: Provided, That seed from a certified lot may be labeled as to variety name when used in a mixture by, or with the approval of, the owner of the variety.
(a) No political subdivision may regulate the registration, packaging, labeling, sale, storage, distribution, transportation or any other use of seeds.
(b) No political subdivision may adopt or continue in effect any local laws, ordinances or regulations relating to the regulating, registration, packaging, labeling, sale, storage, distribution, transportation or any other use of seeds.
(c) Local laws, ordinances or regulations in violation of this section are void and unenforceable.
(3) To any carrier in respect to any seed transported or delivered for transportation in the ordinary course of its business as a carrier: Provided, That the carrier is not engaged in producing, processing or marketing seeds subject to the provisions of this article.
(b) No person is subject to the penalties of this article for having sold or offered for sale seeds subject to provisions of this article which were incorrectly labeled or represented as to kind, species (and subspecies, if appropriate), variety, type, or origin, elevation and year of collection (if required), which cannot be identified by examination, unless he or she has failed to obtain an invoice, genuine grower’s or tree seed collector's declaration or other labeling information and to take such other precautions as may be reasonable to ensure the identity to be that which is stated. A genuine grower's declaration of variety shall affirm that the grower holds records of proof concerning parent seed, such as invoice and labels.
(c) The provisions of sections two [§19-16-2] and three [§19-16-3] of this article do not apply to tree seed produced by the consumer.
(u) Promulgate emergency rules within ninety days of the passage of this bill into law.
(1) When the stop sale or embargo order is issued, the commissioner shall affix a tag or other marking to the seed warning that the seed is under a stop sale order and notify the custodian that he or she has a right to request an immediate hearing.
(2) The commissioner shall release the stop sale or embargo order when the seed has been brought into compliance with this article and its rules.
(3) The commissioner has the authority to issue a stop sale or embargo order against a perishable product, even if the result is the involuntary disposal of the product.
(4) The commissioner may take action to seize any seed not brought into compliance with this article and the rules issued under this article, within ninety days of the notice to the custodian.
(b) Seizure: Any lot of seed or seed potato not in compliance with the provisions of this article is subject to seizure on complaint of the commissioner to a court of competent jurisdiction in the locality in which the seed or seed potato is located. In the event the court finds the seed to be in violation of this article and orders the condemnation of the seed or seed potato, it shall be denatured, processed, destroyed, relabeled or otherwise disposed of in compliance with the laws of this State: Provided, That in no instance may the court order the disposition of the seed without first having given the registrant an opportunity to apply to the court for the release of the seed or seed potato or permission to process or relabel it into compliance with this article.
(a) Criminal penalties. — Any person violating any of the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for the first offense, and for each subsequent offense, shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned in the county jail not more than six months, or both fined and imprisoned. Magistrates have concurrent jurisdiction with circuit courts to enforce the provisions of this article.
(1) Any person violating any of the provisions of this article or the rules adopted under this article may be assessed a civil penalty by the commissioner. In determining the amount of any civil penalty, the commissioner shall give due consideration to the history of previous violations of any person; the seriousness of the violation, including any irreparable harm to the environment, and the demonstrated good faith of any person charged in attempting to achieve compliance with this article after written notification of the violation.
(2) The commissioner may assess a penalty of not more than five hundred dollars for the first offense or nonserious violation, as determined by the commissioner in accordance with the rules promulgated in accordance with the provisions of article three [§§ 29A-3-1 et seq.], chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, and not more than one thousand dollars for a serious, repeat or intentional violation, as determined by the commissioner in accordance with the promulgated rules.
(3) The civil penalty is payable to the State of West Virginia and is collectible in any manner now or hereafter provided for collection of a debt. Any person liable to pay the civil penalty and neglecting or refusing to pay the civil penalty, shall be assessed interest at ten percent per annum from the date the penalty was assessed. The penalty and interest constitute a lien in favor of the State of West Virginia and shall attach on the person’s property when the lien is properly recorded in the county where the property is located. There may be no cost as a condition precedent to recording.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the commissioner may propose for promulgation and adopt rules which permit consent agreements or negotiated settlements for the civil penalties assessed as a result of a violation of the provisions of this article.
(d) Nothing in this article may be construed as to require the commissioner to report minor violations of this article when the commissioner believes that the public interest will be best served by a written notice.
(e) No state court may allow the recovery of damages for administrative action taken if the court finds that there was probable cause for the action.

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