Each container of agricultural or vegetable seed which is sold, offered for sale, exposed for sale, or transported within this state shall be labeled according to the following schedule:
 1. Seed for sowing purposes shall be labeled as follows:

 a. Agricultural or vegetable seed that is treated, inoculated, or coated shall contain a word or statement indicating that the treatment, inoculation, or coating has been done. A separate label may be used.
 b. If treated, the label shall indicate the commonly accepted chemical or abbreviated chemical name of the applied substance or substances or a description of the type and purpose of procedure used. If the substance in the amount present with the seed is harmful to human or vertebrate animals, the label shall bear a caution statement such as “Do not use for food, feed, or oil purposes”. In addition, for highly toxic substances, a poison statement or symbol shall be shown on the label.
 c. If the seed is inoculated, the label shall indicate the month and year beyond which the inoculant is not claimed to be effective.
 d. If the seed is coated, the label shall show the percentage by weight in the container of pure seed, inert matter, coating material, other crop seed, and weed seed. The percentage of germination shall be labeled on the basis of a determination made on at least four hundred pellets or capsules, whether or not they contain seed.
 e. All seed in package or wrapped form which are required to be labeled, unless otherwise provided, shall conform to the requirements of sections 189.9 and 189.11.
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Terms Used In Iowa Code 199.3

  • Agricultural seed: means grass, forage, cereal, oil, fiber, and any other kind of crop seed commonly recognized within this state as agricultural seed, lawn seed, vegetable seed, or seed mixtures. See Iowa Code 199.1
  • Department: means the department of environmental quality in a reference to a time before July 1, 1983, the department of water, air and waste management in a reference to a time on or after July 1, 1983, and through June 30, 1986, and the department of natural resources on or after July 1, 1986, and includes any officer or agency within that department. See Iowa Code 172D.1
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Kind: means one or more related species or subspecies which singly or collectively are known by one common name. See Iowa Code 199.1
  • Labeling: means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic representations, in any form, accompanying and pertaining to seed, whether in bulk or in containers, and includes invoices. See Iowa Code 199.1
  • month: means a calendar month, and the word "year" and the abbreviation "A. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, company, society, or association. See Iowa Code 199.1
  • Registered seed technologist: is a person who has attained registered membership in the society of commercial seed technologists through qualifying tests and experience as required by this society. See Iowa Code 199.1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • variety: means a cultivated subdivision of a kind of plant that may be characterized by growth habits, fruit, seed, or other characteristics, by which it can be differentiated from other plants of the same kind. See Iowa Code 199.1
  • Vegetable seed: means the crops which are grown in gardens or truck farms and are generally sold under the name of vegetable or herb seed in this state. See Iowa Code 199.1
  • Weed seed: means the seed of all plants listed as weeds in this chapter or listed as weeds in the rules of the department or commonly recognized as weeds in this state. See Iowa Code 199.1
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. Except for seed mixtures for lawn or turf purposes, agricultural seed shall bear a label indicating:

 a. The name of the kind or kind and variety for each agricultural seed present in excess of five percent of the whole and the percentage by weight of each. If the variety of those kinds generally labeled as to variety is not stated, the label shall show the name of the kind and the words, “variety not stated”. Hybrids shall be labeled as hybrids. Seed shall not be labeled or advertised under a trademark or brand name in a manner that may create the impression that the trademark or brand name is a variety name.
 b. Lot number or other lot identification.
 c. State or foreign country of origin, if known, of alfalfa and red clover. If the origin is unknown, the fact shall be stated.
 d. Percentage by weight of all weed seed.
 e. The name and rate of occurrence per unit of weight of each kind of secondary noxious weed seed present.
 f. Percentage by weight of agricultural seed which may be designated as “other crop seed” other than those required to be named on the label.
 g. Percentage by weight of inert matter.
 h. (1) For each named agricultural seed:

 (a) Percentage of germination, exclusive of hard seed.
 (b) Percentage of hard seed, if present.
 (c) The calendar month and year the test was completed to determine the percentages.
 (2) Following (a) and (b), the “total germination and hard seed” may be stated as such, if desired.
 i. Name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or who sells, offers, or exposes the seed for sale within this state.
 3. For seed mixtures for lawn or turf purposes, the label shall indicate:

 a. The word “mixed” or “mixture” along with the name of the mixture.
 b. The heading “pure seed” and “germination” or “germ” where appropriate.
 c. Commonly accepted name of kind or kind and variety of each turf seed component in excess of five percent of the whole, and the percentage by weight of pure seed in order of its predominance and in columnar form.
 d. Name and percentage by weight of other agricultural seed than those required to be named on the label which shall be designated as “other crop seed”. If the mixture contains no “other crop seed” that fact may be indicated by the words “contains no other crop seed”.
 e. Percentage by weight of inert matter.
 f. Percentage by weight of all weed seed. Maximum weed seed content not to exceed one percent by weight.
 g. The name and rate of occurrence per unit of weight of each kind of secondary noxious weed seed present.
 h. For each turf seed named under paragraph “c”:

 (1) Percentage of germination, exclusive of hard seed.
 (2) Percentage of hard seed, if present.
 (3) Calendar month and year the test was completed to determine such percentages. The oldest current test date applicable to any single kind in the mixture shall appear on the label.
 i. Name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or who sells, offers, or exposes the seed for sale within the state.
 4. The labeling requirements for vegetable seed sold from containers of more than one pound shall be deemed to have been met if the seed is weighed from a properly labeled container in the presence of the purchaser. Packets of vegetable seed prepared for use in home gardens or household plantings or vegetable seed in preplanted containers, mats, tapes, or other planting devices, shall bear labels with the following information:

 a. Name of kind and variety of seed.
 b. Lot identification.
 c. The year for which the seed was packed for sale or the percentage of germination and the calendar month and year the test to determine such percentage was completed.
 d. Name and address of the person who labeled the seed or who sells, offers, or exposes the seed for sale within the state.
 e. For seed which germinate less than the standard last established by the secretary in rules adopted under chapter 17A:

 (1) Percentage of germination, exclusive of hard seed.
 (2) Percentage of hard seed, if present.
 (3) The words “below standard” in not less than eight point type.
 f. For seed placed in a germination medium, mat, tape, or other device in such a way as to make it difficult to determine the quantity of seed without removing the seed from the medium, mat, tape, or device, a statement to indicate the minimum number of seed in the container.
 g. The last date on which the variety of seed will normally germinate according to standards established by rules adopted by the department.
 5. All other vegetable seed containers shall be labeled, indicating:

 a. The name of each kind and variety present in excess of five percent and the percentage by weight of each in order of its predominance.
 b. Lot number or other lot identification.
 c. (1) For each named vegetable seed:

 (a) Percentage germination exclusive of hard seed.
 (b) Percentage of hard seed, if present.
 (c) The calendar month and year the test was completed to determine such percentages.
 (2) Following (a) and (b), the “total germination and hard seed” may be stated as such, if desired.
 d. Name and address of the person who labeled the seed, or who sells, offers, or exposes the seed for sale within the state.
 6. Seed sold on or from the farm, which is exempt from the permit requirements by section 199.15, shall be labeled on the basis of tests performed by the Iowa state university seed testing laboratory or a commercial seed laboratory personally supervised by a registered seed technologist. Tests for labeling shall be as provided in section 199.10.
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