Nadine Wilkins (202) 720-8998Nadine.Wilkins@ams.usda.govBilly Cox (202) 720-8998billy.cox@usda.gov
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2010 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced that DLF International Seeds, a seed company operating out of Halsey, Ore., has paid $2,700 to settle alleged violations of the Federal Seed Act. The company settled the case in agreement with AMS officials. The company neither admitted nor denied the charges brought against them.
This settlement resolves a case which involved one shipment of a Pasture Mixture to Ohio, one Forage Mixture to Connecticut, and one Lawn Seed Mixture to Georgia. The alleged violations, while not the same for all shipments, were as follows:
-false labeling as to pure seed;-false labeling as to germination percentage;-false labeling as to the date of germination test;-false labeling as to variety name;-incorrect labeling as to kind name; and-failure to keep or supply complete records of the seed.
AMS administers the Federal Seed Act with the assistance of state seed officials. The investigation was completed through the joint efforts of AMS and seed regulatory officials in Connecticut, Georgia, and Ohio. The Federal Seed Act is a truth-in-labeling law designed to protect farmers and consumers who buy seed.
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