State Seed Regulatory Programs
All 50 states have seed laws which require individuals and seed firms to truthfully label all seed for sowing purposes which is offered for sale. Over the past years, a number of states have either reduced funding for their seed programs or eliminated them altogether. Biotechnology and other advances in seed technology will likely be marketed to the consumer through the genetic structure of seed, thus placing additional demands on seed regulatory programs. The situation has become very critical in the Northeast, where some states have reduced seed programs or eliminated their seed regulatory laboratories altogether.
Strong and efficient state seed programs ensure the consumer that the seed they have purchased is truthfully labeled and is routinely being sampled and tested for quality under the state seed laws of their state. Consumers of seed in states without viable seed programs may suffer financial losses when they unknowingly purchase poor quality seed sold or shipped into their state that would not be offered for sale in another state with a strong seed regulatory program. Since a large volume of seed is sold through interstate channels, it is in the best interests of all states to have strong and viable seed regulatory programs in order to create a level field for marketing of seed in the United States.