Source: https://hackpad.com/ep/pad/static/x1pJNzQaH8g
Timestamp: 2017-12-13 20:47:16
Document Index: 214048780

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38']

/1$x1pJNzQaH8g
South Dakota Seed Law
Summary: Seed libraries would be regulated under South Dakota law, requiring them to obtain a permit, submit to random inspections and comply with labeling and advertising rules.
Section 38-12A-11 includes the word "distribute," requiring those who distribute seeds to hold a permit and comply with advertising and labeling regulations. If this word was removed, it might be enough to exempt seed libraries because all of the other code sections refer to "selling" (selling is not defined, so is taken to have it’s ordinary meaning).
The labeling and advertising requirements include listing the germination percentage and if it is "below standard."
38-12A-1 Definitions
Note: a seed library could be considered a "seedsman" by the act of "labeling" seeds. All the other definitions involve selling seeds.
38-12A-11. Seed dealers permit required--Exception--Expiration--Fee. No person may sell, distribute, advertise, solicit orders for, offer for sale, expose for sale, or transport seed without first obtaining from the Department of Agriculture a permit to engage in the business. No permit is required of any person selling or advertising seed of the person’s own production in South Dakota, if the seed is stored or delivered to a purchaser only on or from the farm or premises where grown or the production and sale of seed is not a primary endeavor and primary source of income to such persons. Each permit shall expire on the thirty-first day of December of the year following the date of issue. The biennial fee for a seed permit is: Seedsman-- five hundred dollars; Seed producer-- seventy-five dollars; Seed dealer-- seventy-five dollars.
Note: a permit is required if seed is being distributed by a non-farmer, or a farmer distributes seed in a place other than their farm and it is their primary business endeavor. This would apply to seed libraries "distributing" seed.
38-12A-3. Label required for containers of lawn and turf seed--Contents. Each container of lawn and turf seed which is sold, offered for sale, or exposed for sale, held for storage, or transported within this state with the intent to sell for sowing purposes shall bear or have attached in a conspicuous place a plainly written or printed label giving the following information:
38-12A-4. Label required for containers of vegetable seeds in planting devices--Contents.Each container of vegetable seeds, or of vegetable seeds in preplanted containers, mats, tapes, or other planting devices, which is sold, offered for sale, or exposed for sale, held for storage, or transported within this state with the intent to sell for sowing purposes shall bear or have attached in a conspicuous place a plainly written or printed label giving the following information:
38-12A-5. Label required for containers of flower seeds or flower seeds in planting devices--Contents. Each container of flower seeds or flower seeds in preplanted containers, mats, tapes, or other planting devices which are sold, offered for sale, or exposed for sale, held for storage, or transported within this state with the intent to sell for sowing purposes shall bear or have attached in a conspicuous place a plainly written or printed label giving the following information:
38-12A-10. Exceptions to labeling requirements. The provisions of §§ 38-12A-2 to 38-12A-6, inclusive, do not apply to:
Note: each labeling section recites "intent to sell" the seed, so the labeling requirements arguably do not apply to seed libraries. However, a specific exception is not listed for those who are merely distributing seeds.
38-12A-12. Contents of advertisement by person excepted from seed permit.
Any person excepted from a seed permit pursuant to § 38-12A-11 who advertise seed in this state shall comply with this chapter. The advertisement shall include but not be limited to:
(1) Kind, or kind and variety, or kind and "variety not stated";
(2) Percentages of purity and germination;
(3) The percentage by weight of other crop seed, if present;
(4) The rate of occurrence of any restricted noxious weed seed, if present;
(5) The percentage by weight of all weed seed, if present;
(6) The name and telephone number or the name and address of the person commissioning the advertisement.
This would require seed testing for percentage of purity and germination.
Violations - Misdemeanor
38-12A-16. Unlawful sale, offer for sale, or transportation for sale of seed within state--Violation as misdemeanor. It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, expose for sale, or transport for sale any seed within this state:
(1) Unless a test to determine the percentage of germination has been made within specified time limits prescribed by the secretary pursuant to § 38-12A-20, or the seed is sold only in the year for which the label states that it was packed, or the seed is sold before the expiration date stated on the label;
(2) Which is not labeled in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
(3) Which has a false, misleading, or incomplete label;
(4) Which a false or misleading advertisement has been used in respect to its sale;
(5) Which contains prohibited noxious weed seeds in any amount;
(6) Which consists of or contains restricted noxious weed seeds in excess of standards prescribed by the secretary pursuant to § 38-12A-20, or in excess of the number declared on the label attached to the container of the seed or associated with the seed;
(7) Which contains weed seeds in excess of standards prescribed by the secretary pursuant to § 38-12A-20, or in excess of the amount declared on the label;
(8) If any label or advertisement represents such seed to be certified unless the certification has been determined by an official certifying agency and the seed bears an official label issued for the seed by that agency stating that the seed is certified;
(9) If a United States certificate of plant variety protection has been applied for or issued in accordance with the plant variety protection act for the kind and variety being sold, except with the approval of the owner of the variety or except by variety name as a class of certified seed in accordance with Title V of the Federal Seed Act.
38-12A-18. Additional civil penalty. In addition to the criminal penalties imposed under this chapter, a person is subject to a further civil penalty to the State of South Dakota as prescribed by the secretary pursuant to § 38-12A-20 not to exceed ten times the retail value of any seed involved in the violation or a maximum of one thousand dollars per violation.