BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2487
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Date of Hearing: April 13, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Bill Dodd, Chair
AB 2487
(O'Donnell) - As Introduced February 19, 2016
SUBJECT: Seed Advisory Board: report.
SUMMARY: This bill requires The Seed Advisory Board (Board) to
complete a comprehensive review of the seed program, including a
review of the seed laboratory, and prepare and submit to the
Secretary (Secretary) of the California Department of Food and
Agriculture (CDFA) a report on its findings, on or before July
1, 2018.
EXISTING LAW: Creates the Board, consisting of 11 members, to
advise the Secretary and make recommendations on matters
including, but not limited to, seed law and regulations, seed
laboratory diagnostics, and annual budgets required to regulate
the seed industry.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.
COMMENTS: The California Seed Law (CSL) was enacted in 1967 to
ensure that agricultural and vegetable seed is properly and
accurately identified on the product label. Through the CSL, the
Seed Services Program (seed program) does the following:
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1) Regulates the marketing of seeds so that quality
information is accessible and accurate;
2) Tests for seed purity and germination through sampling;
3) Investigates seed complaints and attempts to resolve
buyer/seller disputes;
4) Works to prevent the transmission of noxious weed seeds
through seed products; and
5) Supports research and development of seed biotechnology.
The seed program is locally enforced by county agricultural
commissioners, who enter into cooperative agreements with CDFA,
and agree to maintain a statewide compliance level on all seed
sold in the county. Funding for the seed program is entirely
supported through industry seed assessments and registration
fees and administered by the CDFA.
According to CDFA: "The goal of seed law enforcement is to
protect seed consumers, including vegetable and field crop
growers, as well as urban landscapers. Poor quality seeds can
cost farmers and home gardeners alike considerable amounts of
time, money, and resources, by way of reduced yields, poor crop
quality, contamination by weeds or other unwanted species. By
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enforcing California Seed Law regarding marketing and labeling,
CDFA is able to ensure that consumers receive the desired
product, and that there is supportive legal action for those who
are wronged."
The Board was created in 1974 to advise the Secretary on all
matters pertaining to CSL and regulations, enforcement, seed
laboratory diagnostics, and annual budgets required to
accomplish the purposes of CSL. The Board is comprised of 11
members, which are appointed by the Secretary and consist of
registered seed labelers representing seed production,
conditioning, marketing and utilization; persons who receive or
possess seed for sale in California; and two members of the
public.
Since CSL was enacted, the seed industry as whole has changed
greatly. Changes include consolidation, increased foreign
trade, phytosanitary requirements and advanced hybridization.
According to supporters there is also a greater demand for
identification standards of organic seeds, heirloom seeds and
biotech seeds.
In November of 2013, the Board approved a motion to conduct a
business needs analysis of the seed program. The analysis is
scheduled to begin in April of 2016, and will identify how the
seed program can better serve the industry, while also
considering services needed to meet future demands.
Effective implementation of the seed program in California is
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critical due to the amount of time, money and resources poor
quality seeds cost the agricultural community. The author
states in order to assess whether CSL still meets current
industry demands, a thorough review of the seed program is
needed. AB 2478 will ensure that this review is completed in a
timely manner by requiring the Board to conduct a review of the
state's seed program, and provide a comprehensive report back to
the Secretary by July 1, 2018.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Seed Association
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by:Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
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