The following responses are provided by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture in regard to general questions about the Connecticut State Seed Law.
RELATIONSHIP TO RUSSL:
- Does your state seed law model RUSSL?
Answer = YES, modeled after RUSSL, circa 1965 or so.
PERMIT/LICENSING REQUIREMENTS:
- Does your state law have a permit/license requirement for seedsmen to distribute seeds in your state?
Answer = YES, labelers license needed, at a fee of $50 per year.
ARBITRATION:
- Does your state offer "Seed Arbitration" as part of your seed law, or as a separate law?
Answer = NO
PRE-EMPTION LEGISLATION:
- Does your state have "pre-emption" legislation to restrict local political subdivisions from regulating seed?
Answer = NO
BRAND LABELING:
- Does your law allow for "brand name" labeling?
Answer = YES
VARIETY LABELING:
- Does your state allow for "variety not stated"?
Answer = YES
- Does your law allow for "variety unknown" labeling?
Answer = NO, not specifically
- If the variety is not declared on the label, does your law allow labeling by "crop kind" only?
Answer = NO
- Do you allow the use of the abbreviated term "VNS" to be used in place of the phrase "variety not stated"?
Answer = YES
- Does your state allow abbreviations on the seed label?
Answer = YES
- How do you handle seed coatings on your seed label?
Answer = Seed coatings can be listed as part of inert matter as long as it is broken out somewhere on the label.
TEST DATE:
- What is the "TEST DATE" requirement for agricultural and vegetable seeds in your state?
Answer = 9 months
GMO REGULATIONS:
- Does your state law have any specific language regulating "GMOs"?
Answer = NO
- Does your state test for specific GMO varietal traits on official samples?
Answer = NO
UNIQUE (MISCELLANEOUS) REQUIREMENTS:
- Does your state seed law have any "unique" or special requirements and/or prohibitions?
Answer = YES, the origin of alfalfa, red clover, and field corn (except hybrid corn) must be stated.