7 U.S.C. § 1593a — Seed variety information and survey

Page 890 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 1593a reasonable standards of germination for each kind of vegetable seed as will in his judgment best protect crop production. (Aug. 9, 1939, ch. 615, title IV, § 403, 53 Stat. 1285.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE See section 1610 of this title. § 1593a. Seed variety information and survey (a) Information (1) In general Grain submitted for public testing shall be evaluated for selected specific agronomic per- formance characteristics and intrinsic end-use performance characteristics, as determined by the Secretary, with the results of the evalua- tions made available to the Secretary. (2) Dissemination of information The Secretary shall disseminate varietal performance information obtained under para- graph (1) to plant breeders, producers, and end users. (b) Survey The Secretary shall periodically conduct, com- pile, and publish a survey of grain varieties com- mercially produced in the United States. (c) Analysis of variety survey data The Secretary shall analyze the variety sur- veys conducted under subsection (b) in conjunc- tion with available applied research information on intrinsic quality characteristics of the vari- eties, to evaluate general intrinsic crop quality characteristics and trends in production related to intrinsic quality characteristics. This infor- mation shall be disseminated as required by sub- section (a)(2). (Pub. L. 101–624, title XX, § 2013, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3933.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was enacted as part of the Grain Quality In- centives Act of 1990, and also as part of the Food, Agri- culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, and not as part of the Federal Seed Act which comprises this chapter. § 1594. Prohibition against alterations No person shall detach, alter, deface, or de- stroy any label provided for in this chapter or the rules and regulations made and promulgated thereunder by the Secretary of Agriculture, or alter or substitute seed in a manner that may defeat the purpose of this chapter. (Aug. 9, 1939, ch. 615, title IV, § 404, 53 Stat. 1286.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE See section 1610 of this title. § 1595. Seizure (a) Any seed sold, delivered for transportation in interstate commerce, or transported in inter- state or foreign commerce in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall, at the time of such violation or at any time thereafter, be liable to be proceeded against on libel of infor- mation and condemned in any district court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which the seed is found. (b) If seed is condemned by a decree of the court as being in violation of the provisions of this chapter, it may be disposed of by the court by— (1) sale; or (2) delivery to the owner thereof after he has appeared as claimant and paid the court costs and fees and storage and other proper expenses and executed and delivered a bond with good and sufficient sureties that such seed will not be sold or disposed of in any jurisdiction con- trary to the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations made and promulgated thereunder, or the laws of such jurisdiction; or (3) destruction. (c) If such seed is disposed of by sale, the pro- ceeds of the sale, less the court costs and fees and storage and other proper expenses, shall be paid into the Treasury as miscellaneous re- ceipts, but such seed shall not be sold or dis- posed of in any jurisdiction contrary to the pro- visions of this chapter and the rules and regula- tions made and promulgated thereunder, or the laws of such jurisdiction. (d) The proceedings in such libel cases shall conform, as nearly as may be, to the proceedings in admiralty, except that either party may de- mand trial by jury of any issue of fact joined in any such case; and such proceedings shall be at the suit of and in the name of the United States. (Aug. 9, 1939, ch. 615, title IV, § 405, 53 Stat. 1286.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE See section 1610 of this title § 1596. Penalties (a) Any person who knowingly, or as a result either of gross negligence or of a failure to make a reasonable effort to inform himself of the per- tinent facts, violates any provision of this chap- ter or the rules and regulations made and pro- mulgated thereunder shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall pay a fine of not more than $1,000, for the first offense, and upon conviction for each subsequent offense not more than $2,000. (b) Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or the rules and regulations made and promulgated thereunder shall forfeit to the United States a sum, not less than $25 or more than $500, for each such violation, which for- feiture shall be recoverable in a civil suit brought in the name of the United States. (Aug. 9, 1939, ch. 615, title IV, § 406, 53 Stat. 1286; July 9, 1956, ch. 520, § 1, 70 Stat. 508.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1956—Act July 9, 1956, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted ‘‘knowingly or as a result either