In addition to the labeling requirements of this article, all seed at the time of sale by a retail merchant for nonfarm usage, shall conspicuously bear upon the labeling of the seed a viability assurance statement.

1. (a) The statement shall be “SELL BY (month) (year),” or “USE BEFORE (month) (year)”. The month and year in the statement shall not exceed the 15-month retail time period allowed by subdivision (b) of Section 52481.
2. (b) The statement shall be conspicuous and in capital letters of the same size of type as other printed material on the labeling and contiguous to the germination date.
3. (c) The statement shall be affixed at the time of labeling for those containers destined for retail sales.
4. (d) For vegetable seed sold in containers of one-half pound (227 grams) or less, the viability assurance statement may read “Packed for (year) season” as an alternative to the “SELL BY (month) (year)” statements referenced in subdivision (a).