Washington, DC, USA
March 11, 2024
Excerpts from USDA news release "USDA Finalizes Voluntary “Product of USA” Label Claim to Enhance Consumer Protection"
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Farmer Seed Liaison Initiative
USDA is taking new actions to enhance transparency and competition in the U.S. seed industry through its Farmer Seed Liaison Initiative, which aims to elevate the voices of farmers, small- and mid-size seed companies, and independent plant breeders in policy and decision-making processes to improve competition, choice, and fairness in the seed marketplace.
Today, AMS announced it will be launching a nationwide Website Monitoring Program focused on Federal Seed Act brand and variety name compliance. Key to the monitoring efforts, regulatory specialists are conducting in-depth reviews of websites, including links to scanned pamphlets and PDFs, that advertise Federal Seed Act-regulated seeds. AMS will approach these reviews and any subsequent enforcement using a risk-based approach that considers the impact and reach of the violation and the efforts of those responsible for the website to make the information compliant. These efforts are the next steps in USDA’s initiative to boost variety transparency to the farmer at the point of sale and follow on the letters that USDA sent to the executives of the largest seed companies in November. Additionally, USDA will increase outreach efforts, including a webinar to further educate producers about labeling requirements and participation in industry meetings. The agency produced a similar webinar with the American Seed Trade Association.
For more information on the Farmer Seed Liaison Initiative, visit the USDA Seed Liaison webpage.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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