Rules and Regulations under the Rhode Island State Seed Law (250-RICR-40-20-8)


250-RICR-40-20-8 INACTIVE RULE

8.1 Authority

These regulations are promulgated pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-6-7 and Chapter 42-17.1, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in the R.I. Administrative Procedures Act, R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-35.

8.2 Incorporated Materials

These regulations hereby adopt and incorporate 7 C.F.R. § 201 (2017) by reference, not including any further editions or amendments thereof and only to the extent that the provisions therein are not inconsistent with these regulations.

8.3 Methods of Sampling, Inspecting, Analyzing, Testing and Examining Agricultural and Vegetable Seeds and Tolerances to be Followed in the Administration of These Rules and Regulations

The terms used in seed testing and the methods of sampling, inspecting, analyzing, testing and examining agricultural and vegetable seeds and the tolerances to be followed in the administration of these rules and regulations shall be those adopted effective July 1, 1955, and as subsequently amended by the Association of Official Seed Analysts.

8.4 Prohibited Noxious Weed Seeds

A. The following list of prohibited noxious weed seeds is established effective January 1, 1979:

Bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis

Nutgrass, Cyperus spp.

Quackgrass, Agropyron repens

Thistle, Canada, Cirsium arvense

B. The sale of agricultural, vegetable or lawn seed containing any prohibited noxious weed seeds is prohibited.

8.5 Restricted Noxious Weed Seeds

A. The following list of restricted noxious weed seeds is established effective January 1, 1979:

Corncockle, Agrostemma githago

Dodder, Cuscuta spp.

Garlic, Wild, Allium vineale

Horsenettle, Solanum carolinense

Mustard, Wild, Brassica spp.

Onion, Wild, Allium canadense

Plaintain, Buckhorn, Plantago ianceolata

Radish, Wild, Raphanus raphanistrum

Sowthistle, Perennial, Sonchus arvensis

B. The label shall show the name and approximate number of each kind of restricted noxious weed seed:

1. Per ounce in Agrostis spp., Poa spp., timothy, orchardgrass, fescues, alsike and white clover, reed canarygrass, ryegrass, foxtail millet, alfalfa, red clover, sweetclovers, lespedezas, smooth brome, crimson clover, and other agricultural seeds of a size and weight similar to or greater than those within this group, or any mixtures within this group; and,

2. Per pound in sudangrass, wheat, oats, rye, barley, buckwheat, sorghums, vetches, and other agricultural seeds of a size and weight similar to or greater than those within this group or any mixtures within this group.

8.6 Germination Standards for Vegetable Seeds

The standards for the germination of vegetable seeds shall be those promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as set forth in the Federal Seed Act Regulations, 7 C.F.R. § 201 (See 7 C.F.R. § 201.31 Germination Standards for Vegetable Seeds in Interstate Commerce), incorporated above at § 8.2 of this Part.

8.7 White Sweetclover

Sweetclover seed containing more than 5 percent of yellow sweetclover seed (more than 1.25 percent) mottled seeds must not be labeled white sweetclover. Such seed must be labeled sweetclover or as a mixture.

8.8 Grower's Declaration

A grower's declaration is a statement signed by the grower giving, for any lot of seed the lot number, the kind, variety, origin and weight.

8.9 Labeling of Seed Distributed to Wholesalers

After seed has been processed it must be labeled before distribution to any person including a wholesaler. Each bag or bulk lot must be completely labeled when supplied to a retailer or consumer. Labeling of seed supplied to a wholesaler, one whose predominant business is to supply seed to other distributors rather than to consumers of seed, may by invoice if each bag or other container is clearly identified by a lot number stenciled on the container or if the seed is in bulk. Each bag or container that is not so identified must carry complete labeling.

8.10 "Fine-Textured Grasses'" and "Coarse Kinds"

A. For purposes of labeling under R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-6-3(3)(ii)(A), "Fine-Textured Grasses" shall include those kinds or varieties approved as "Fine-Textured Grasses" by the Association of American Seed Control Officials at the Biennial Conference of said Association in 1961 and as subsequently amended by said Association after approval of the Joint Legislative Committee of AASCO, ASTA, AOSA, and AOSCA. All kinds or varieties not so designated as "Fine-Textured Grasses" must be listed under the heading of "Coarse Kinds".

B. The following is the present list of "Fine-Textured Grasses" and "Coarse Kinds" adopted by the Association of American Seed Control Officials:

1. Fine-Textured Grasses:

a. Bentgrasses:

Agrostis canina, Velvet Bentgrass

Agrostis palustris, Creeping Bentgrass

Agrostis tenuis , Colonial Bentgrass

b. Bluegrasses:

Poa compressa, Canada Bluegrass

Poa nemoralis, Wood Bluegrass

Poa pratensis, Kentucky Bluegrass

Poa trivialis, Rough Bluegrass

c. Fescues:

Festuca ovina, Sheep Fescue

Festuca ovina var. duriuscula, Hard Fescue

Festuca rubra, Red Fescue

Festuca rubra var. commutata, Chewings Fescue

d. Bermudagrass:

Cynodon dactylon, Bermudagrass

e. Ryegrasses:

Lamora, Manhattan, NK-100, Norlea, Barenza, Caprice, Citation, Combi, Compos, Derby, Diplomat, Endura, Ensporta, Eton, Game, Loretta, NJ-200, Pennfine, Servo, Splendor, Sprinter, Sportina, Yorktown, Yorktown II and Pelo varieties of Lolium perenne, Perennial Ryegrass

2. Coarse kinds (including legumes and ground covers) shall be all kinds not named above and shall be all varieties of Lolium perenne not named above.

8.11 Hermetically-Sealed Seed

A. The following standards, requirements and conditions must be met before seed is considered to be hermetically-sealed under the provisions of these rules and regulations.

1. The seed was packaged within 9 months after harvest.

2. The container used does not allow water vapor penetration through any wall, including the seals, greater than 0.05 grams of water per 24 hours per 100 square inches of surface at 100°F with a relative humidity on one side of 90 percent and on the other side of 0 percent. Water vapor penetration or WVP is measured by the standards of the U.S. Bureau of Standards as: gm.H2O/24 hr./100 sq. in./100°F/90% RH V.0% RH.

3. The seed in the container does not exceed the percentage of moisture, on a wet weight basis, as listed below:

a. Agricultural Seeds:

Agricultural Seeds

Percent

Beet, Field

7.5

Beet, Sugar

7.5

Bluegrass, Kentucky

6.0

Clover, Crimson

8.0

Fescue, Red

8.0

Ryegrass, Annual

8.0

Ryegrass, Perennial

8.0

All others

6.0

Mixture of above

8.0

b. Vegetable Seeds:

Vegetable Seeds

Percent

Bean, Garden

7.0

Bean, Lima

7.0

Beet

7.5

Broccoli

5.0

Brussel Sprouts

5.0

Cabbage

5.0

Carrot

7.0

Cauliflower

5.0

Celeriac

7.0

Celery

7.0

Chard, Swiss

7.5

Chinese Cabbage

5.0

Chives

6.5

Collards

5.0

Corn, Sweet

8.0

Cucumber

6.0

Eggplant

6.0

Kale

5.0

Kohlrabi

5.0

Leek

6.5

Lettuce

5.5

Muskmelon

6.0

Mustard, India

5.0

Onion

6.5

Onion, Welsh

6.5

Parsley

6.5

Parsnip

6.0

Pea

7.0

Pepper

4.5

Pumpkin

6.0

Radish

5.0

Rutabaga

5.0

Spinach

8.0

Squash

6.0

Tomato

5.5

Turnip

5.0

Watermelon

6.5

All Others

6.0

4. The container is conspicuously labeled in not less than 8 point type to indicate:

a. That the container is hermetically sealed,

b. That the seed has been preconditioned as to moisture content, and,

c. The calendar month and year in which the germination test was completed.

5. The percentage of germination of seed at the time of packaging was equal to or above the standards specified elsewhere in these rules and regulations.



Title 250 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Chapter 40 Agriculture and Resource Marketing
Subchapter 20 Marketing
Part 8 Rules and Regulations under the Rhode Island State Seed Law (250-RICR-40-20-8)
Type of Filing Technical Revision
Regulation Status Inactive
Effective 11/20/2017 to 11/20/2017

Regulation Authority:

R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-6-7 and Chapter 42-17.1, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in the R.I. Administrative Procedures Act, R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-35.

Purpose and Reason:

This Technical Revision is being promulgated to correct the labeling of two sections as 8.2. The second Section 8.2 was corrected to be Section 8.3 and all subsequent section headings were re-labeled. No substantive changes were made to this rule.