2-1421. Unlawful acts.

2-1421

Chapter 2.--AGRICULTURE
Article 14.--SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURAL SEEDS

      2-1421.   Unlawful acts. (a) It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, expose for sale or advertise by commercial means any agricultural seed for seeding purposes: (1) Unless a test has been made to determine the percentage of germination and it shall have been completed within a nine-month period (exclusive of the calendar month in which the test was completed) immediately prior to sale, exposure for sale or offering for sale;

      (2)   which is not labeled in accordance with the provisions of this act;

      (3)   which has a false, misleading or incomplete label;

      (4)   which contains noxious weed seeds;

      (5)   which contains restricted weed seeds in excess of the quantity prescribed by subsection (k) of K.S.A. 2-1415, and amendments thereto;

      (6)   which contains more than 1% of weed seeds by weight, except smooth bromegrass, fescues, orchard grass, wheatgrasses, and lespedeza which contain more than 2% weed seed by weight and chaffy range grasses which contain more than 4% by weight;

      (7)   if any label, advertisement or other media represents such agricultural seed to be certified or registered, unless: (A) Such certification or registration has been determined by an official seed certifying agency; and (B) such seed bears an official label issued for such seed by such agency stating that the seed is certified or registered;

      (8)   by variety name not certified by an official seed certifying agency when it is a variety for which a certificate of plant variety protection has been issued under the plant variety protection act, as amended, and as in effect on July 1, 1997, specifying sale only as a class of certified seed, except that seed from a certified lot may be labeled as to variety name when used in a mixture by, or with the approval of, the owner of the variety;

      (9)   without having registered with the secretary as required by K.S.A. 2-1421a, and amendments thereto.

      (b)   It is unlawful for any person:

      (1)   To alter or deface any label so that the information is false or misleading or to mutilate any label;

      (2)   to disseminate any false or misleading advertisements concerning agricultural seed;

      (3)   to issue any statement, invoice or declaration as to the variety of any agricultural seed which is false or misleading;

      (4)   to hinder or obstruct the secretary or an authorized representative of the secretary in the performance of official duties;

      (5)   to fail to comply with a stop sale order, or to move or otherwise handle or dispose of any quantity of seed held under a stop sale order, or a stop sale tag attached thereto, except with express permission of the enforcing officer in writing and except for the purpose specified therein;

      (6)   to use the word "trace" as a substitute for any statement which is required;

      (7)   to use the word "type" in any labeling in connection with the name of any agricultural seed variety.

      (c)   Except as provided in subsection (a)(8), it shall not be a violation of this act for the grower of agricultural seed to sell, offer or expose for sale for planting or seeding purposes agricultural seed which has not been tested and labeled when the agricultural seed:

      (1)   Has been grown on the grower's premises;

      (2)   is free from noxious weed seed; and

      (3)   does not contain any restricted weed seed in excess of the quantity prescribed by subsection (k) of K.S.A. 2-1415, and amendments thereto. Agricultural seed sold pursuant to this exemption shall not be advertised by commercial means unless such advertisement specifically states such agricultural seed is bin run or whether such seed has been tested.

      History:   L. 1935, ch. 4, § 7; L. 1961, ch. 5, § 4; L. 1978, ch. 5, § 1; L. 1985, ch. 10, § 4; L. 1990, ch. 4, § 3; L. 1997, ch. 63, § 2; July 1.