Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 80. AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 5. AGRICULTURAL SEED AND PATENTED PLANT MATERIAL

Part 1. Seed Labeling -- Licensing -- Certification

Label Requirements For Agricultural, Vegetable, Flower, And Indigenous Seeds

80-5-123. Label requirements for agricultural, vegetable, flower, and indigenous seeds. (1) Each container of agricultural, vegetable, flower, and indigenous seeds sold in this state for sowing purposes must bear a conspicuous, unaltered label or tag, plainly written or printed in English. Bulk sales must be accompanied by the required label information, which must be given to the seed purchaser. The following information, which may not be modified or denied in the labeling or on another label attached to the container, must be included on a label:

(a) name and address of the seed labeler;

(b) lot number identification;

(c) germination rate and date of germination test or a notation of the year for which the seed was packaged for sale;

(d) state or country of origin;

(e) notice calling attention to the requirement for alternative dispute resolution under 80-5-501; and

(f) seed kind or variety. The department shall establish rules specifying the kinds of seed for which variety must be stated and the kinds of seeds for which the variety may be stated and when the words "variety not stated" may be used. Kinds of seeds not listed by department rule may be stated as kind only or as kind and variety.

(2) In addition to the required label information listed in subsection (1), the department shall establish by rule additional label requirements for agricultural seed, including grass, lawn, and turf seed, and for vegetable, flower, and indigenous seeds. The additional label requirements may include:

(a) percentage of kind or variety of each seed component present in a container;

(b) percentage of weed seed present, both restricted and common weed seed;

(c) amount of inert material present;

(d) warnings for treated seed; and

(e) requirements for coated seed, inoculated seed, seed that is below standard, seed sold in bulk, hybrid seed, seed mixtures, and seed in containers, mats, tapes, and other planting devices.

History: En. Sec. 11, Ch. 345, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 567, L. 2001.