The following responses are provided by the Illinois Department of Agriculture in regard to general questions about the Illinois State Seed Law.

RELATIONSHIP TO RUSSL:
- Does your state seed law model RUSSL?
Answer = YES, it is not 100% but very close to RUSSL recommendations.

PERMIT/LICENSING REQUIREMENTS:
- Does your state law have a permit/license requirement for seedsmen to distribute seeds in your state?
Answer = YES, a permit is required by anyone whose name or address is on the label, anyone opening a bag and selling partial, or anyone distributing seed into the State of Illinois. Retail dealer $10.00; wholesale dealer $30.00; seed broker $30.00; seed merchant (Combination retail and wholesale) $40.00; public auction $30.00.

ARBITRATION:
- Does your state offer "Seed Arbitration" as part of your seed law, or as a separate law?
Answer = YES, seed arbitration is a separate law. The Illinois Seed Arbitration Act and Rules has been in effect since 1996.

- If yes, is it mandatory?
Answer = YES

- Do you allow the use of the arbitration label notice as referenced in RUSSL?

Answer = Yes, however, since ours is a mandatory law for all seed transactions, dealers do not have an option for participation; therefore, we do not require that any arbitration information be placed on a label.

- Does your arbitration law have any unique or special requirements?
Answer = NO

PRE-EMPTION LEGISLATION:
- Does your state have "pre-emption" legislation to restrict local political subdivisions from regulating seed?
Answer = NO, not at this time. The Illinois Seed Trade Association is in the process of drafting seed pre-emption legislation and obtaining sponsors in both the Illinois House and Senate to introduce this legislation in 2007.

BRAND LABELING:
Does your law allow for "brand name" labeling?
Answer = YES

- How does your state handle seed coatings on your seed label?
Answer = Seed coatings must be listed separately from inert matter.

VARIETY LABELING:
- Does your state allow for "Variety Not Stated" labeling?
Answer = YES

- Does your law allow for "variety unknown" labeling?
Answer = NO

- If the variety is not declared on the label, does your law allow labeling by "crop kind" only?
Answer = YES

- Do you allow the use of the abbreviated term "VNS" to be used in place of the phrase "variety not stated"?
Answer = NO

TEST DATE:
- What is the "TEST DATE" requirement for agricultural and vegetable seeds in your state?
Answer = 12 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 = YES, Roundup Ready, BT

UNIQUE (MISCELLANEOUS) REQUIREMENTS:
- Does your state seed law have any "unique" or special requirements and/or prohibitions?
Answer = NO