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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54518</law_id><section_number>3.2-4015</section_number><catch_line>Prohibitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-4008</reference><reference>3.2-4016</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Production and Sale of Agricultural Products</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="40">Seeds</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Seeds</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>It is unlawful to:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Transport, offer for transportation, sell, or offer for <span class="dictionary">sale</span> seed or seed <span class="dictionary">mixtures</span>:
			a. Unless the <span class="dictionary">germination</span> test to determine the percentage of <span class="dictionary">germination</span> required by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Labeling and advertising requirements" href="/3.2-4008/">3.2-4008</a> is completed within nine months prior to the month of transportation, <span class="dictionary">sale</span>, or offer for <span class="dictionary">sale</span>, except for the <span class="dictionary">germination</span> test for <span class="dictionary">cool-season <span class="dictionary">lawn and turf seeds</span></span> or <span class="dictionary">mixtures</span> thereof, which must be completed within 15 months prior to the month of transportation, <span class="dictionary">sale</span>, or offer for <span class="dictionary">sale</span>;
			b. Not labeled in compliance with this article, not registered or falsely stated to be registered under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Lawn and turf seed mixture; registration and labeling" href="/3.2-4009/">3.2-4009</a>, or having a false or misleading <span class="dictionary">labeling</span> or claim;
			c. If there has been a false or misleading <span class="dictionary">advertisement</span> with regards to the seed;
			d. Consisting of, or containing <span class="dictionary">prohibited noxious-<span class="dictionary">weed seeds</span></span> in any amount;
			e. Containing <span class="dictionary">restricted noxious-<span class="dictionary">weed seeds</span></span>, except as prescribed by regulations;
			f. Containing <span class="dictionary">weed seeds</span> in excess of one percent by weight, except as prescribed by regulations;
			g. That have been <span class="dictionary">treated</span> and not labeled as required;
			h. To which there is affixed names or terms that create a misleading impression as to the <span class="dictionary">kind</span>, <span class="dictionary">kind</span> and <span class="dictionary">variety</span>, history, productivity, quality, or <span class="dictionary">origin</span> of the seed;
			i. Represented to be certified, registered, or <span class="dictionary">foundation seed</span> unless it has been produced, processed and labeled in accordance with the procedures and in compliance with regulations of an officially recognized certifying agency;
			j. Represented to be a <span class="dictionary">hybrid</span> unless such seed conforms to the definition of a <span class="dictionary">hybrid</span> as defined in this article except those <span class="dictionary">kinds</span> named in regulations adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> as having agronomic value and <span class="dictionary">flower seed</span> generally defined as <span class="dictionary">hybrids</span> prior to the enactment of subsections G and H of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Labeling and advertising requirements" href="/3.2-4008/">3.2-4008</a> on July 1, 1966 as determined by regulations adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>;
			k. <span class="dictionary">Hybrid</span> seed from a crop that has been inspected in the field by a duly authorized inspector and rejected because of failure to conform to the <span class="dictionary">controlled conditions</span> as specified by regulations;
			l. Unless it conforms to the definition of a &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">lot</span>&#x201D;; and
			m. Unless the <span class="dictionary">variety</span> or <span class="dictionary">hybrid</span> name or designation is the first <span class="dictionary">variety</span> or <span class="dictionary">hybrid</span> name or designation assigned to it by the owner of the <span class="dictionary">variety</span> or <span class="dictionary">hybrid</span>; <a id="paragraph-200179" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Transport, offer for transportation, sell, or offer for <span class="dictionary">sale</span> <span class="dictionary">screenings</span> unless labeled as provided in subsection F of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Labeling and advertising requirements" href="/3.2-4008/">3.2-4008</a>. <a id="paragraph-200180" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Detach, alter, deface, or destroy any label required pursuant to this article or alter or substitute seed in any manner that may defeat the purpose of this article. <a id="paragraph-200181" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Disseminate false or misleading <span class="dictionary">advertisement</span> concerning agricultural, vegetable, flower, tree and shrub, <span class="dictionary">lawn and turf seeds</span>, or <span class="dictionary">screenings</span>. <a id="paragraph-200182" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Hinder or obstruct the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> in the performance of his duties. <a id="paragraph-200183" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Fail to comply with or supply inaccurate information in reply to a stop <span class="dictionary">sale</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span>; remove labels attached to or dispose of seed or <span class="dictionary">screenings</span> held under such <span class="dictionary">order</span> except as specified by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>. <a id="paragraph-200184" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Use the name of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> or the results of tests and inspections made by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> for advertising purposes. <a id="paragraph-200185" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Use the words &#x201C;type&#x201D; or &#x201C;trace&#x201D; in lieu of information required by this article. <a id="paragraph-200186" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Label and offer for <span class="dictionary">sale</span> seed without keeping complete records as specified in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Duty to maintain records" href="/3.2-4006/">3.2-4006</a>. <a id="paragraph-200187" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Fail to obtain a license in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="License required to market seed" href="/3.2-4005/">3.2-4005</a>. <a id="paragraph-200188" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Fail to register a <span class="dictionary">lawn and turf seed</span> <span class="dictionary">mixture</span> in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Lawn and turf seed mixture; registration and labeling" href="/3.2-4009/">3.2-4009</a>. <a id="paragraph-200189" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="12"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> Fail to pay inspection fees in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Lawn and turf seed; inspection fee" href="/3.2-4010/">3.2-4010</a>. <a id="paragraph-200190" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="13"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> Sell, offer for <span class="dictionary">sale</span>, or advertise as noncertified a <span class="dictionary">variety</span> if a certificate of plant <span class="dictionary">variety</span> protection has been issued under the Plant <span class="dictionary">Variety</span> Protection Act specifying <span class="dictionary">sale</span> only as a class of certified seed. The <span class="dictionary">guarantor</span> may label seed from a certified <span class="dictionary">lot</span> by <span class="dictionary">variety</span> name when the <span class="dictionary">guarantor</span> uses the seed in a <span class="dictionary">mixture</span> if the <span class="dictionary">guarantor</span> is the owner of the <span class="dictionary">variety</span> or the owner of the <span class="dictionary">variety</span> gives the <span class="dictionary">guarantor</span> approval to use the <span class="dictionary">variety</span> name. <a id="paragraph-200191" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4015/#13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 3-219.4; 1958, c. 483; 1966, cc. 9, 702, &#xA7; 3.1-265; 1994, c. 577; 2008, c. 860; 2012, c. 297.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
