An Act to amend the Federal Seed Act (53 Stat. 1275) as amended
PL 89-686 (H.R.15662), enacted 10/15/1966

80 
STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 89-686-0CT. 15, 1966 
975 
Public Law 89-686 
AN ACT 
To amend the Federal Seed Act (53 Stat. 1275), as amended. 
October 15, 1966 
[H. R. 15662] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That sections 
101(a)(1), 101(a) (8) (A) (ii), 101(a) (9) (A) (ii) and 101(a) (10) of 
the Federal Seed Act (53 Stat. 1275, 1277,1278; 70 Stat. 908, 7 U.S.C. 
1561(a)(1), 1561(a) (8) (A) (ii), 1561(a) (9) (A) (ii), and 1561(a) 
(10)) are hereby amended by deleting therefrom the words "Alaska"' 
and "Hawaii" and the commas appearing after such words. 
SEC. 2. Section 101(a) (7) (A) of said Act (53 Stat. 1276; 72 Stat. 
476,7 U.S.C. 1561 (a) (7) (A)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(A) 'Agricultural seeds' shall mean grass, forage, and field crop 
seeds which the Secretary of Agriculture finds are used for seeding 
purposes in the United States and which he lists in the rules and regu-
lations prescribed under section 402 of this Act." 
SEC. 3. Section 101(a) (11) of said Act (53 Stat. 1278; 7 U.S.C. 
1561(a) (11)) is amended by substituting for the words "wheat", 
"oats", "vetch", and "sweetclover" the words "soybean", "flax", "car-
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SEC. 4. Section 201 (a) of said Act (53 Stat. 1279; 7 U.S.C. 1571(a)) 
is amended by changing the introductory portion thereof to read as 
follows: 
"(a) Any agricultural seeds or any mixture of agricultural seeds 
for seeding purposes, unless each container bears a label giving the 
following information, except as provided in paragraph (j) of this 
section for seed mixtures intended for lawn and turf purposes, in ac-
cordance w4th rules and regulations prescribed under section 402 of 
this Act:" 
SEC. 5! Section 201(a) (1) of said Act (53 Stat. 1279; 7 U.S.C. 1571 
(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 
" (1) The name of the kind or kind and variety for each agricultural 
seed component present in excess of 5 per centum of the whole and 
the percentage by weight of each: Provided, That if any such compo-
nent is one which the Secretary of Agriculture has determined, in 
rules and regulations prescribed under section 402 of this Act, is gen-
erally labeled as to variety, the label shall bear, in addition to the name 
of the kind, either the name of such variety or the statement 'Variety 
Not Stated': And provided further, That in the case of any such com-
ponent which is a hybrid seed it shall, in addition to the above require-
ments, be designated as hybrid on the label;". 
SEC. 6. Section 201 (a) of said Act (53 Stat. 1279; 7 U.S.C. 1571 (a)) 
is amended by adding at the end thereof a new paragraph (10), to 
read as follows: 
"(10) The year and month beyond which an inoculant, if shown 
in the labeling, is no longer claimed to be effective." 
SEC. 7. Section 201(b) of said Act (53 Stat. 1280, 72 Stat. 476; 7 
U.S.C. 1571 (b)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(b) Any vegetable seeds, for seeding purposes, in containers, unless 
each container bears a label giving the following information in accord-
ance with rules and regulations prescribed under section 402 of this 
Act: 
"(1) For containers of one pound or less of seed that germinates 
equal to or above the standard last established by the Secretary of 
Agriculture, as provided under section 403 (c) of this Act— 
"(A) The name of each kind and variety of seed, and if two 
or more kinds or varieties are present, the percentage of each, and 
Federal Seed 
Act, amendment. 
"Agricultural 
s e e d s . " 
7 u s e 1592. 
Labeling re-
quirements. 
Post, 
p. 977. 
Name of kind, 
etc. 
Vegetable seeds. 
7 u s e 1593. 
976 
PUBLIC LAW 89-686-OCT. 15, 1966 
[80 STAT. 
further, that in the case of any such component which is a hybrid 
seed, it shall be designated as hybrid on the label; and 
"(B) Name and address of— 
"(i) the person who transports, or delivers for transporta-
tion, said seed in interstate commerce; or 
"(ii) the person to whom the seed is sold or shipped for 
resale, together with a code designation approved by the 
Secretary of Agriculture under rules and regulations pre-
7^us*c'15^9^2^' 
scribed under section 402 of this Act, indicating the person 
who transports or delivers for transportation said seed in 
interstate commerce; 
"(2) For containers of one pound or less of seed that germinates 
less than the standard last established by the Secretary of Agriculture, 
7 use 159 3. 
f
j
^
g provided under section 403 (c) of this Act— 
"(A) The name of each kind and variety of seed, and if two 
or more kinds or varieties are present, the percentage of each, and 
further, that in the case of any such component which is a hybrid 
seed, it shall be designated as hybrid on the label; and 
"(B) For each named kind and variety of seed— 
" (i) the percentage of germination, exclusive of hard seed; 
"(ii) the percentage of hard seed, if present; 
"(iii) the calendar month and year the test was completed 
to determine such percentages; 
"(iv) the w^ords 'Below^ Standard'; and 
"(C) Name and address of— 
"(i) the person who transports, or delivers for transporta-
tion, said seed in interstate commerce; or 
"(ii) the person to whom the seed is sold or shipped for 
resale, together with a code designation approved by the 
Secretary of Agriculture under rules and regulations pre-
scribed under section 402 of this Act, indicating the person 
who transports or delivers for transportation said seed in 
interstate commerce. 
" (3) For containers of more than one pound of seed— 
"(A) The name of each kind and variety of seed, and if two 
or more kinds or varieties are present, the percentage of each and, 
further, that in the case of any such component which is a hybrid 
seed, it shall be designated as hybrid on the label; 
"(B) Lot number or other lot identification; 
"(C) For each named kind and variety of seed— 
" (i) the percentage of germination, exclusive of hard seed; 
"(ii) the percentage of hard seed, if present; 
"(iii) the calendar month and year the test was completed 
to determine such percentages; and 
"(D) Name and address of— 
"(i) the person who transports, or delivers for transporta-
tion, said seed in interstate commerce; or 
" (ii) the person to whom the seed is sold or shipped for re-
sale, together with a code designation approved by the Sec-
retary of Agriculture under rules and regulations prescribed 
under section 402 of this Act, indicating the person who trans-
ports or delivers for transportation said seed in interstate 
commerce." 
80 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 89-686-OCT. 15, 1966 
977 
SEC. 8. Clause (b) of section 201(c) of said Act (53 Stat. 1280; 7 
U.S.C. 1571 (c)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(b) a longer period for any kind of agricultural or vegetable seed 
which is packaged in such container materials and under such other 
conditions prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture as he finds will, 
during such longer period, maintain the viability of said seed under 
ordinary conditions of handling." 
SEC. 9. Section 201(i) (4) of said Act (72 Stat. 477; 7 U.S.C. 1571 
(i) (4)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(4) A description, approved by the Secretary of Agriculture as 
adequate for the protection of the public, of any process used in such 
SEC. 10.* Section 201 of said Act (53 Stat. 1279; 7 U.S.C. 1571) is 
amended by adding at the end thereof a new subsection (j) to read as 
follows: 
"(i) Any agricultural seed mixtures intended for lawn and turf 
Lawn and turf 
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seed mixtures. 
seed purposes, m containers oi fifty pounds or less, unless each con-
tainer thereof bears a label giving the following information and state-
ments in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed under sec-
tion 402 of this Act: 
7 use 159 2. 
"(1) The headings 'Fine-textured Grasses' and 'Coarse Kinds', and 
specified in tabular form thereunder in type no larger than the head-
ings, for each lawn and turf seed component present in excess of 5 
per centum of the whole or named on the label: 
" (i) the name of the kind, or kind and variety, 
" (ii) the percentage by weight of each, in order of its predomi-
nance under the appropriate heading required above, 
"(iii) the percentage of germination of each, exclusive of hard 
seed, 
" f iv) the percentage of hard seed, if present, and 
"(v) the calendar month and year the test was completed to 
determine such percentages. 
"(2) The heading 'Other Ingredients', and specified thereunder in 
type no larger than the heading the following information: 
"(A) Percentage by weight of weed seeds, including noxious-
weed seeds; 
"(B) Percentage by weight of agricultural seeds other than 
those included under paragraph (1) of this subsection; 
"(C) Percentage by weight of inert matter. 
" (3) The following additional information: 
" (A) Lot number or other identification; 
"(B) Kinds of noxious-weed seeds and the rate of occurrence 
of each, which rate shall be expressed in accordance with and 
shall not exceed the rate allowed for shipment, movement, or sale 
of such noxious-weed seeds by the law and regulations of the 
State into which the seed is offered for transportation or trans-
ported, or in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, when under the provisions of section 101 (a) 
(9) (A) (iii) he shall determine that weeds other than those desig- 
'' ^^^ ^^^^^ 
nated by State requirements are noxious; 
"(C) Name and address of— 
'*(i) the person who transports, or delivers for transporta-
tion, said seed in interstate commerce, or 
"(ii) the person to whom the seed is sold or shipped for re-
sale, together with a code designation approved by the Secre-
978 
PUBLIC LAW 89-686-OCT. 15, 1966 
[80 STAT. 
7 use 159 2. 
Unidentified 
seeds. 
Ante, p. 975. 
Treatment sub-
stance. 
7 u s e 1571. 
Importation pro-
hibitions. 
tary of Agriculture under rules and regulations prescribed 
under section 402 of this Act, indicating the person who 
transports or delivers for transportation said seed in inter-
state commerce." 
SEC. 11. Section 202 of said Act (53 Stat. 1281, 72 Stat. 477; 7 U.S.C. 
1572) is amended by inserting the word "treatment" followed by a 
comma immediately preceding the word "germination" wherever said 
word appears in said section. 
SEC. 12. (a) Section 203(d) of said Act (53 Stat. 1282; 7 U.S.C. 
1573 (d)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(d) The provisions of sections 201 (a) and (b) relative to the 
labeling of agricultural and vegetable seeds with the percentages of 
the kind or kind and variety of seeds shall not be deemed violated 
if there are seeds in the container or bulk which could not be, or were 
not, identified because of their indistinguishability in appearance 
from the seeds intended to be transported or delivered for transporta-
tion in interstate commerce: Provided, That the records of the person 
charged with the duty under said section of labeling or invoicing the 
seeds, kept in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Secre-
tary of Agriculture, together with other pertinent facts, disclose that 
said person has taken reasonable precautions to insure the identity of 
the seeds to be that stated. 
(b) Section 203 of said Act is amended by adding at the end thereof 
a new subsection (e) reading as follows: 
"(e) The provisions of section 201 (i) relative to the labeling of 
agricultural and vegetable seeds with the name of any substance used 
in the treatment of seeds shall not be deemed violated if the substance 
or substances used in such treatment could not be or were not identified 
because of their indistinguishability from the substance or substances 
intended to be used in the treatment of the seeds: Provided, That the 
records of the person charged with the duty under said section of 
labeling or invoicing the seeds, kept in accordance with the rules and 
regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, together with other perti-
nent facts, disclosed that said person has taken reasonable precautions 
to insure the identity of the substance or substances to be as stated." 
SEC. 13. Section 301(a)(4) of said Act (72 Stat. 478; 7 U.S.C. 
1581 (a) (4)) is amended to read as follows: 
" (4) any seed containing 10 per centum or more of any agricultural 
or vegetable seeds, unless the invoice pertaining to such seed and any 
other labeling of such seed bear a lot identification and the name of 
each kind and variety of vegetable seed present in any amount and 
each kind or kind and variety of agricultural seed present in excess of 
5 per centum of the whole, and unless in the case of hybrid seed present 
in excess of 5 per centum of the whole it is designated as hybrid." 
SEC. 14. Section 301 (a) of said Act (53 Stat. 1282; 7 U.S.C. 1581 (a)) 
is further amended by adding at the end thereof a new paragraph (5) 
to read as follows: 
"(5) any agricultural seeds or any mixture thereof, or any vege-
table seeds or any mixture thereof, for seeding purposes, that have 
been treated, unless each container thereof bears a label giving the 
following information and statements in accordance with rules and 
regulations prescribed under section 402 of this Act: 
"(A) A word or statement indicating that the seeds have been 
treated; 
"(B) The commonly accepted coined, chemical (generic), or 
abbreviated chemical name of any substance used in such treat-
ment; 
"(C) If the substance used in such treatment in the amount re-
maining with the seeds is harmful to humans or other vertebrate 
procedures. 
7 u s e 159 2. 
80 
STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 8 9 - 6 8 6 - O C T . 15, 1966 
979 
animals, an appropriate caution statement approved by the Sec-
retary of Agriculture as adequate for the protection of the public, 
such as 'Do not use for food or feed or oil purposes': Provided^ 
That the caution statement for mercurials and similarly toxic 
substances, as defined in said rules and regulations, shall be a 
representation of a skull and crossbones and a statement such as 
'This seed has been treated with POISON', in red letters on a 
background of distinctly contrasting color; and 
"(D) A description, approved by the Secretary of Agriculture 
as adequate for the protection of the public, of any process used 
in such treatment." 
SEC. 15. Section 302(a) of said Act (53 Stat. 1283, 72 Stat. 478; 
importation 
7 U.S.C. 1582(a)) is amended by msertmg after the nrst sentence 
thereof the following sentence: 
"The Secretary of Agriculture may apply statistical sampling and 
inspection techniques to said samples and screenings to determine 
whether the pure-live seed requirement of any kind of seed is being 
met, in which case, he shall advise the importer of each lot of seed not 
examined for pure-live seed percentage." 
SEC. 16. Section 302(d) of the Act (72 Stat. 479; 7 U.S.C. 1582(d)) 
is amended by adding at the end thereof a new paragraph (3) reading 
as follows: 
"(3) when seed not meeting the pure-live seed requirements 
of section 304 of this title will not be sold within the United 
States and will be used for seed production only by or for the 
importer or consignee: Prodded^ That the importer of record 
or consignee files a statement in accordance with the rules and 
regulations prescribed under section 402 of this Act certifying 
that such seed will be used only for seed production by or for the 
importer or consignee." 
SEC. 17. Section 302 of said Act (53 Stat. 1283, 72 Stat. 479, 7 U.S.C. 
1582) is further amended by adding at the end thereof a new para-
graph (e) reading as follows: 
" (e) The provisions of this title requiring certain seeds to be stained 
shall not apply when such seed will not be sold within the United 
States and wnll be used for seed production only by or for the importer 
or consignee: Provided^ That the importer of record or consignee files 
a statement in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed 
under section 402 of this Act certifying that such seed will be used 
only for seed production by or for the importer or consignee." 
SEC. 18. Section 304 of said Act (53 Stat. 1284, 7 U.S.C. 1584) is 
seed unnt for 
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seeding purposes. 
amended to read as follows: 
7 use issi. 
"SEC. 304. Seed subject to the provisions of section 301 is unfit for 
seeding purposes: (a) if any such seed contains noxious-weed seeds, 
or (b) if any such seed contains more than 2 per centum by weight 
of weed seeds, or (c) if any such seed contains less than 75 per centum 
of pure-liA-e seed, or if any component of such seed present to the 
extent of 10 per centum or more contains less than 75 per centum of 
live seed: Provided^ That when the Secretary of Agriculture shall find 
that any such seed or any kind of seed present to the extent of 10 per 
centum or more cannot be produced to contain 75 per centum of pure-
live seed, he may set up such standards from time to time for pure-live 
seed as he finds can be produced and seed conforming to such standards 
shall not be deemed to be unfit for seeding purposes." 
SEC. 19. Section 101(a)(4) of said Act (53 Stat. 1275, 7 U.S.C. 
1561(a)(4)) is amended by inserting the word "treatment," before 
the word "variety". 
Approved October 15, 1966.