HB 5310 - Connecticut's Seed Law

• Establishes comprehensive labeling requirements for agricultural, vegetable, flower, tree and shrub seeds sold in Connecticut, effective October 1, 2014, including specifications for kind, variety, germination percentages, lot numbers, origin information, and noxious weed content.

• Requires seed labels to include treatment information, germination test dates, "sell by" dates, and contact information for the labeler or seller, with specific formatting rules for different seed types and packaging.

• Prohibits sale of seeds with prohibited noxious weed seeds, excess restricted noxious weed seeds, false or misleading labels, or germination tests older than ten months, with exceptions for hermetically sealed containers valid for up to 36 months.

• Vests enforcement authority in the Seed Control Officer (Commissioner of Agriculture or designee) with authority to inspect, sample, test seeds, issue "stop sale" orders, and establish regulations; violations are Class D misdemeanors with fines of $100 for first offense and $200 for subsequent offenses.

• Requires persons handling seed to maintain complete records for two years and file samples for one year, and repeals previous Connecticut seed law sections 22-55 to 22-61a.