(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, expose for sale or distribute within this state:
(1) Any agricultural or vegetable seed unless the test to determine the percentage of germination required by Section 2-26-7 shall have been completed within a nine-month period, exclusive of the calendar month in which the test was completed, immediately prior to sale or offering for sale, transportation or distribution; provided, however, that the State Board of Agriculture and Industries shall have authority under rules and regulations adopted under this article to prescribe a shorter required test period when deemed necessary to meet seasonal conditions with respect to certain seed; provided further, that the State Board of Agriculture and Industries shall also have authority pursuant to rules and regulations to prescribe a longer period of time for the test required to determine the percentage of germination for agricultural and vegetable seed labeled and packed in hermetically sealed containers, which shall not exceed 36 months after the month of test, and to prescribe the conditions and labeling requirements for the sale of such seed in hermetically sealed containers;
(2) Any agricultural, vegetable, herb, tree, shrub or flower seed not labeled in accordance with the provisions of this article, or having a false or misleading labeling;
(3) Any agricultural, vegetable, herb, tree, shrub or flower seed pertaining to which there has been a false or misleading advertisement;
(4) Any agricultural or vegetable seed containing prohibited noxious weed seeds or restricted noxious weed seeds in excess of limitations prescribed by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries;
(5) Any agricultural or vegetable seed containing weed seed in excess of two percent of the whole by weight, except as provided by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries pursuant to rules and regulations adopted for the occurrence of weed seeds;
(6) Any agricultural seed having a total percentage of germination and hard seed of less than 60, except Dallisgrass, Johnsongrass and seed released by the U.S.A. Customs, unless such percentage of germination is lowered or increased by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries as authorized under Section 2-26-2;
(7) Any agricultural, vegetable, flower, tree, shrub or herb seed unless the person selling, offering for sale or distributing such seed for sale has obtained an annual permit as required under Section 2-26-5;
(8) Oat or sorghum seed not complying with the regulations promulgated by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries controlling the sale and distribution of same;
(9) Any hybrid seed corn unless it is certified or produced as required under Section 2-26-9; and
(10) Any tree or shrub seed not in compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person within this state:
(1) To detach, alter, deface or destroy any label provided for in this article or the rules and regulations made and promulgated hereunder or to alter or substitute seed in a manner that may defeat the purpose of this article;
(2) To disseminate any false or misleading advertisement concerning agricultural, vegetable, herb, tree, shrub or flower seed in any manner or by any means;
(3) To hinder or obstruct in any way any authorized person in the performance of his duties under this article;
(4) To fail to comply with a "stop-sale," "suspension from sale" or "nonuse" order;
(5) To use a nonwarranty or disclaimer clause or limited warranty clause in any invoice, labeling or advertising which shall directly or indirectly deny or modify any information required by this article or regulations promulgated hereunder, nor shall any such clause relieve or exempt any person from any of the requirements of this article or regulations promulgated hereunder; or
(6) To violate or fail to comply with any rule or regulation promulgated and adopted by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries under authority of this article.
Last modified: May 3, 2021