01-001 C.M.R. ch. 313
DIVISION OF INSPECTIONS
SUMMARY: Provides reference for taking official samples, designates testing laboratory, statement of prohibition of primary noxious weed seeds, labeling of certified seed, standard of germination for vegetable seeds, how treated seeds shall be labeled, how lawn seeds may be labeled, and prohibition of advertising based on official I analysis results.
Sampling, inspecting, analysis, tests, tolerances, and examination of agricultural, vegetable or tree and shrub seeds will be in accordance with the rules, regulations and procedures of the Association of Official Seed Analysts of North America.
The Maine Agricultural Experiment Station will be the official seed testing laboratory.
All agricultural, vegetable or tree and shrub seeds on the premises of a retail merchant shall bear the complete analysis tag as prescribed by law. Labeling requirements as set forth in Section 1043 shall be considered to have been complied with if the information is not on each individual bag of seed packaged from bulk containers sold over the counter in the presence of the purchaser; provided, however, that bulk containers from which sales are made are properly and conspicuously labeled to give purchasers such information as is required by Section 1043.
All agricultural seeds containing primary noxious-weed seeds are prohibited from sale.
No person shall sell, offer or expose for sale any seed, the label or package of which shall have printed thereon the term 'Certified', alone or with other words, or shall so use any other term or form of words which suggest that there has been inspection and certification or either, unless such seeds have been produced under certification by the legally constituted inspection officials of the state of origin or foreign country.
The standards of vegetable seeds in the State of Maine will be those provided for by the rules and regulations of the Federal Seed Act. They are as follows:
| Percent | |
|---|---|
| Artichoke | 60 |
| Asparagus | 70 |
| Asparagusbean | 75 |
| Beans, garden (varieties other than Corneli 14, Earligreen, Improved Tendergreen (Resistant Tender-green),King Green, Logan, Processor, Ranger, Rival, Seminole, Slenderwhite, Slimgreen, Tenderbest, Tendercrop, Tenderlong 15, Tenderwhite, Topcrop, Topmost, Wade, Whiteseeded Tendergreen and Woodruff's Hyscore) | 75 |
| Beans, garden (varieties Corneli 14, Earligreen, Improved Tender-green,(Resistant Tendergreen),King Green, Logan, Processor, Ranger, Rival, Seminole, Slenderwhite, Slimgreen, Tenderbest, Tendercrop, Tenderlong 15, Tenderwhite, Topcrop, Topmost, Wade,Hhite-seeded, Tendergreen, and Woodruff'sHyscore) | 70 |
| Bean, lima | 70 |
| Bean, runner | 75 |
| Beet | 65 |
| Broadbean | 75 |
| Broccoli | 75 |
| Brussels sprouts | 70 |
| Burdock, great | 60 |
| Cabbage | 75 |
| Cabbage, tronchuda | 75 |
| Cantaloupe (See muskmelon) | |
| Cardoon | 60 |
| Carrot | 55 |
| Cauliflower | 75 |
| Celeriac | 55 |
| Celery | 55 |
| Chard, Swiss | 65 |
| Chicory | 65 |
| Chinese cabbage | 75 |
| Chives | 50 |
| Citron | 65 |
| Collards | 80 |
| Corn, sweet | 75 |
| Cornsalad | 70 |
| Cowpea; | 75 |
| Cress, garden | 75 |
| Cress, upland | 60 |
| Cress, water | 40 |
| Cucumber | 80 |
| Dandelion | 60 |
| Eggplant | 60 |
| Endive | 70 |
| Kale | 75 |
|---|---|
| Kale, Chinese | 75 |
| Kohlrabi | 75 |
| Leek | 60 |
| Lettuce | 80 |
| Muskmelon | 75 |
| Mustard | 75 |
| Mustard, spinach | 75 |
| Okra | 50 |
| Onion | 70 |
| Onion, Welsh | 70 |
| Pak-choi | 75 |
| Parsley | 60 |
| Parsnip | 60 |
| Pea | 80 |
| Pepper | 55 |
| Pumpkin | 75 |
| Radish | 75 |
| Rhubarb | 60 |
| Rutabaga | 75 |
| Salsify | 75 |
| Sorrel | 65 |
| Soybean | 75 |
| Spinach | 60 |
| Spinach, New Zealand | 40 |
| Squash | 75 |
| Tomato | 75 |
| Tomato, husk | 50 |
| Turnip | 80 |
| Watermelon | 70 |
Standards for vegetable seeds are subject to change under the Federal Seed Act. This Department will furnish information on changes upon request.
Vegetable Seeds not meeting the established standards of germination must show the actual germination and the month and year in which the germination test was completed, and also show the words 'Below Standard' in a conspicuous place on the label or the container.
'Origin' shall mean by state or states, or foreign countries.
The term 'treated' when used in connection with the labeling of any seedstock shall be construed to mean that the seed has received an application of a substance or has been subjected to a process for which a claim is made. Labeling for treated seed shall include commonly accepted coined, chemical (generic), or abbreviated chemical name; the word(s) 'poison', 'poison treated' or similar wording for mecurials or similarly toxic-substances; and cautionary statement 'Do not use for food, feed or
oil purposes'. This requirement follows closely the regulations of the Federal Seed Act pertaining to treated seed.
'Lawn grass seed' or 'lawn seed mixture' may be labeled as such provided the mixture contains not less than 55 percent by weight of the pure seed of the recognized lawn or turf producing grasses and white clover which are now or later may be generally used in such mixtures. Such grasses shall include the bent grasses, (Agrostis spp.), including redtop (Agrostis alba); blue grasses (Poa spp.); fescues (Festuca spp.); excluding meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis); Norlea variety of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne); and white clover (Trifolium repens). Such a mixture shall contain not more than 15 percent by weight of inert matter, 1.5 percent of weed seeds, and 10 percent of timothy.
The name or names used to designate or describe other special purpose mixtures or indicate their special composition, shall be truly descriptive and the mixture shall contain not less than 25 percent by weight of the pure seed of kinds of plants known to be reasonably well suited or adapted for the particular purpose indicated in the usage name used. (Such for Instance as Shady Spot Mixture).
When a mixture is given the name of a park, club, or some other public place, it shall not be considered properly labeled unless it actually is a mixture or formula of grasses used in that place from which the name has been taken.
The use on the label or in connection with any advertising of the results of any official analysis is strictly prohibited.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 7 MRSA '1046
EFFECTIVE DATE:
About 1951
RE-ADOPTED:
August 23, 1979
EFFECTIVE DATE (ELECTRONIC CONVERSION):
May 4, 1996
CONVERTED TO MS WORD:
May 19, 2008
CORRECTIONS:
February, 2014 – agency names, formatting