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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 18Ch. 2Art. 8§ 52455 Seed Viability Labeling Requirements

§ 52455 Seed Viability Labeling Requirements

Food and Agricultural Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 52455 Seed Viability Labeling Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •All seeds sold in stores for home use must have a clear label saying when to sell or use them by.
  • •The label must say 'SELL BY (month) (year)' or 'USE BEFORE (month) (year)' and cannot be more than 15 months from the germination date.
  • •The label must be easy to see, in big letters, and right next to the germination date.
  • •For small vegetable seed packets (half a pound or less), the label can say 'Packed for (year) season' instead.

Example

You buy a packet of tomato seeds at a garden store.

The packet must have a big, clear label saying something like 'USE BEFORE June 2025' or 'Packed for 2024 season'. This tells you how long the seeds should stay good for planting.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 52455 Seed Viability Labeling Requirements

In addition to the labeling requirements of this article, all seed at the time of sale by a retail merchant for nonfarm usage, shall conspicuously bear upon the labeling of the seed a viability assurance statement. (a) The statement shall be “SELL BY (month) (year),” or “USE BEFORE (month) (year)”. The month and year in the statement shall not exceed the 15-month retail time period allowed by subdivision (b) of Section 52481. (b) The statement shall be conspicuous and in capital letters of the same size of type as other printed material on the labeling and contiguous to the germination date. (c) The statement shall be affixed at the time of labeling for those containers destined for retail sales. (d) For vegetable seed sold in containers of one-half pound (227 grams) or less, the viability assurance statement may read “Packed for (year) season” as an alternative to the “SELL BY (month) (year)” statements referenced in subdivision (a). (Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 499, Sec. 11. Effective January 1, 2007.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

statementsell byuse beforepacked for [year] seasongerminationviabilityassuranceaddition

Related Statutes

  • § 52452 Agricultural Seed Labeling Requirements
  • § 52453 Vegetable Seed Labeling Requirements
  • § 52311 Seed Labeling Exemptions
  • § 52456 Seed Dispute Resolution Notice
  • § 52481 Seed Germination Testing Periods

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 52455.
View Official Source