AMS Code Designation

The Federal Seed Act (FSA) requires interstate shippers to put their name and address on the seed label for kinds of seed subject to the FSA. As an alternative, the FSA permits interstate shippers to put their customer’s name and address on the label, provided the label contains the interstate shipper’s code designation. The use of this code allows the interstate shipper to label the seed with their customer’s name and address for resale and still be identified as the interstate shipper as required by the FSA. 

The code designation is issued by AMS. Code designations issued after 1972 will have an AMS prefix. Code designations issued before 1972, when the agency name was changed from Consumer & Marketing Service to Agricultural Marketing Service, will have a C&MS prefix. Shipper codes are considered confidential in that they are available only to AMS staff and state seed control officials.

To acquire a code designation/AMS Number, please email your company letterhead, business card, or typed contact number, and information to Kevin.Robinson2@usda.gov. If you have more than one facility, indicate the facility and location in which you will be using the code designation. Sections 201(a)(9), 201(b)(B), and 201(b)(2)(C) of the FSA pertain to the code designation.