Seed merchants: seed labeling license

tnpeppers · February 20, 2014

I have a question for all the tomato seed vendors here at Tomatoville: are you REQUIRED to have a 'seed labeling license' (or something similar) to market your seed through your individual websites or any electronic bulletin board service? I order seed from a number of vendors here at T'Ville, and are always happy with the results. Packaging varies from vendor to vendor...some seeds I receive with in a 2 x 3 white envelope with the variety hand-written in ink on the envelope; others in coin envelopes with more detail printed on the label, still others in 2 x 3 self-seal packets with limited information, such as quantity and variety.

In my home of Tennessee, hobby/small gardeners are EXEMPT from the state's seed labeling laws as long as the seed is being marketed in packaging LESS than one pound. I don't believe there are many vendors here at T'Ville selling seed in those quantities in ONE package.

Here in New Hampshire, there is a bill in the Environment and Agriculture Committee to EXEMPT hobby/small gardeners from the heavy-handed regulations imposed on them by the State's 'seed labeling' provisions. Unfortunately, most seed savers/potential vendors weren't even aware that such a bill (HB1300) was in the hopper, and the State Ag employees showed up to sway the members of the committee to leave things as they are...their 'argument' was that gardeners were at risk of losing their ENTIRE gardens if the seeds failed to germinate. That argument swayed some members of the committee. Who uses ONE 'hobby gardener' vendor for their ENTIRE garden? If the seeds did NOT germinate, you would still have PLENTY of time to replace them. If you purchased seed from a vendor and the seed did NOT germinate, you aren't very likely to purchase seed from said vendor again...even worse, you'll probably tell ALL your friends. We know how quickly the word spreads on 'social media' nowadays.

We aren't even sure this bill will get out of committee today (10 Democrats, 9 Republicans...the author is Republican, the sponsor is Republican.) If not, it is dead until next year.

So I'm curious...do the vendors here deal with such licenses, and what is YOUR state's criteria?

February 20, 2014	#1
tnpeppers Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Zone 6 Posts: 365	Seed merchants: seed labeling license I have a question for all the tomato seed vendors here at Tomatoville: are you REQUIRED to have a 'seed labeling license' (or something similar) to market your seed through your individual websites or any electronic bulletin board service? I order seed from a number of vendors here at T'Ville, and are always happy with the results. Packaging varies from vendor to vendor...some seeds I receive with in a 2 x 3 white envelope with the variety hand-written in ink on the envelope; others in coin envelopes with more detail printed on the label, still others in 2 x 3 self-seal packets with limited information, such as quantity and variety. In my home of Tennessee, hobby/small gardeners are EXEMPT from the state's seed labeling laws as long as the seed is being marketed in packaging LESS than one pound. I don't believe there are many vendors here at T'Ville selling seed in those quantities in ONE package. Here in New Hampshire, there is a bill in the Environment and Agriculture Committee to EXEMPT hobby/small gardeners from the heavy-handed regulations imposed on them by the State's 'seed labeling' provisions. Unfortunately, most seed savers/potential vendors weren't even aware that such a bill (HB1300) was in the hopper, and the State Ag employees showed up to sway the members of the committee to leave things as they are...their 'argument' was that gardeners were at risk of losing their ENTIRE gardens if the seeds failed to germinate. That argument swayed some members of the committee. Who uses ONE 'hobby gardener' vendor for their ENTIRE garden? If the seeds did NOT germinate, you would still have PLENTY of time to replace them. If you purchased seed from a vendor and the seed did NOT germinate, you aren't very likely to purchase seed from said vendor again...even worse, you'll probably tell ALL your friends. We know how quickly the word spreads on 'social media' nowadays. We aren't even sure this bill will get out of committee today (10 Democrats, 9 Republicans...the author is Republican, the sponsor is Republican.) If not, it is dead until next year. So I'm curious...do the vendors here deal with such licenses, and what is YOUR state's criteria?