Bureau of Compliance Monitoring
Seed Section
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The Seed Section is responsible for enforcement and administration of the Florida Seed Law and Rules, Chapter 578, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 5E-4, Florida Administrative Code. This law regulates the sale and distribution of all seed sold in Florida.
A firm must complete an Application for Registration as a Seed Dealer and pay the appropriate fee to become a licensed seed dealer.
The Application for Registration as a Seed Dealer is available here (DACS-13024) (pdf) - or may be obtained by contacting the Seed Section at (850) 487-3863. Before a firm can distribute seed in Florida, the application must be completed and mailed to the Seed Section along with the appropriate license fee, based on gross receipts from the sale of seed, for the preceding license year. For places of business not previously in operation, the fee shall be based on anticipated receipts for the first license year. The Seed Dealer License expires on June 30th each year and must be renewed annually.Label Requirements - Label requirements vary with different types of seed. See Chapter 578.09, Florida Statutes, for requirements in labeling agricultural, vegetable, and flower seeds, and Chapter 578.091, Florida Statutes, for forest tree seed.
Seed Investigation and Conciliation Council - The Seed Investigation and Conciliation Council was founded to assist farmers and agricultural seed dealers in determining the validity of complaints made by farmers against dealers. When any farmer is damaged by the failure of seed to produce or perform as represented by its labeling, the farmer may file a complaint with the Department. A nonrefundable filing fee of $100 is required with each complaint. The Council consists of (7) members and (7) alternates representing various interests of the seed industry. Members are appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
Seed Technical Council - The Seed Technical Council was created to consider and study all issues involving seed, seedlings, vegetative propagating materials and plants, and to review and make recommendations to the Department on related matters. The Council is composed of (11) members representing various interests of the seed industry. Members are appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
To order a list of Registered Seed Dealers or other available information, please call our office at: (850) 487-3863. There may be a charge involved.
Contact: George Hayslip (hayslig@doacs.state.fl.us)
