WASHINGTON, May 9, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that Ferry-Morse Seed Company, Fulton, Ky., has paid $1,575 to settle alleged violations of the Federal Seed Act.
This settlement resolves two cases that involved one shipment of squash seed to North Carolina and one shipment of chives seed to Utah. The alleged violations were as follows:
- false labeling as to germination percentage;-failure to test for germination percentage within five months of interstate shipment;-false labeling as to variety name;-failure to label by variety name; and-failure to keep or supply complete records of the seed.
The company settled the case in agreement with AMS officials. The company neither admitted nor denied the charges brought against them.
The Federal Seed Act regulates the interstate shipment of agricultural and vegetable seeds to ensure that seed shipped in interstate commerce is truthfully labeled, and that advertisements about the seed are truthful. This allows seed buyers to make informed choices and promotes fair competition within the seed trade. AMS administers the Federal Seed Act by leveraging its resources with State departments of agriculture. These investigations were a result of joint efforts with seed regulatory officials in Utah. By working collaboratively with State partners, the Federal Seed Act also helps promote uniformity among State laws and fair competition within the seed trade.
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