Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 21 - Agriculture and Land Stewardship Department
Chapter 40 - Agricultural Seeds
Rule 21-40.13 - Hermetically Sealed Seed

Universal Citation: IA Admin Code 21-40.13

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024

The following standards, requirements and conditions must be met before seed is considered to be hermetically sealed:

(1) The seed was packaged within nine months after harvest.

(2) The container used does not allow water vapor penetration through any wall, including the seals, greater than 0.05 grams of water per 24 hours per 100 square inches of surface at 100°F., with a relative humidity on one side of 90 percent and on the other side 0 percent. Water vapor penetration or WVP is measured by the standards of the U. S. Bureau of Standards as:

gm. H2O/24 hr./1OOsw. in./100°F./90% RH V..0%RH.

(3) The seed in the container does not exceed the percentage of moisture, on a wet weight basis, as listed below:

Agricultural seeds Percent Vegetable seeds Percent
Beet, field.............. ......... 7.5 Corn, sweet........... ...........8.0
Beet, sugar............. ......... 7.5 Cucumber............ ...........6.0
Bluegrass, Kentucky...... ......... 6.0 Eggplant............. ...........6.0
Clover, crimson.......... ......... 8.0 ......... 8.0 Kale................ ...........5.0
Fescue, red............. Kohlrabi............. ...........5.0
Ryegrass, annual......... ......... 8.0 Leek................ ...........6.5
Ryegrass, perennial....... ......... 8.0 Lettuce.............. ...........5.5
All others.............. ......... 6.0 Muskmelon........... Mustard, India......... ...........6.0
...........5.0
Vegetable seeds Percent Onion............... ...........6.5
Bean, garden............ ......... 7.0 Onion, Welsh.......... ...........6.5
Bean, lima............. ......... 7.0 Parsley............... ...........6.5
Beet.................. ......... 7.5 Parsnip.............. ...........6.0
Broccoli............... ......... 5.0 Pea................. ...........7.0
Brussel sprouts.......... ......... 5.0 Pepper............... ...........4.5
Cabbage............... ......... 5.0 Pumpkin............. ...........6.0
Carrot................ ......... 7.0 Radish............... ...........5.0
Cauliflower............. ......... 5.0 Rutabaga............. ...........5.0
Celeriac............... ......... 7.0 Spinach.............. ...........8.0
Celery................ ......... 7.0 Squash............... ...........6.0
Chard, Swiss............ ......... 7.5 Tomato.............. ...........5.0
Chinese cabbage......... ......... 5.0 Turnip............... ...........5.0
Chives................ ......... 6.5 Watermelon........... ...........6.5
Collards............... ......... 5.0 All others............. ...........6.0

(4) The container is conspicuously labeled in not less than 8-point type to indicate:

a. That the container is hermetically sealed,

b. That the seed has been preconditioned as to moisture content, and

c. The calendar month and year in which the germination test was Cornpleted.

(5) The percentage of germination of vegetable seed at the time of packaging was equal to or above the standards in Title 7 C.F.R., Section 201.31, revised as of January 1, 1982.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Iowa may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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