TITLE 4.AGRICULTURE

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Chapter 10. SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

The Texas Department of Agriculture (the department) and the State Seed and Plant Board (the Board) adopt amendments to §§10.4, 10.5, 10.10-10.14, 10.21 and 10.22, concerning limitations of generations, bulk sales labeling fees, additional requirements for certification and requirements and standards for hybrid sorghum and sunflower varietal purity grow-outs, without changes to the proposal published in the January 4, 2002 issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 15-18). The department is the certifying agency in the administration of the Seed and Plant Certification Act, and is charged with administering and enforcing the standards adopted by the Board. The amendment to §10.4, concerning recertification of crops, deletes a requirement that prevents the Board from permitting production of an additional generation of certified seed at anytime unless an emergency is declared prior to the planting season. Many times recertification is not needed prior to the planting season, but inclement weather conditions may greatly reduce or destroy production areas and cause a severe reduction in quantity and quality of seed. The amendment will allow the board to allow recertification anytime a disaster occurs. The amendments to §§10.5, 10.10-10.13, and 10.21-10.22 are adopted to clarify the sections and change the cost of selling bulk seed. This would allow for use of the same fee structure for the sale of bulk seed as the fee structure currently provided in the Texas Seed Law. The amendment to §10.14 adds Bluegrass to the Laboratory Analysis Chart. This amendment is made to provide a standard for kinds and varieties of bluegrass to be certified by the Board.

No comments were received on the proposal.

Subchapter A. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

4 TAC §§10.4, 10.5, 10.10, 10.11

The amendments to §§10.4, 10.5 and 10.10, 10.11 are adopted under the Texas Agriculture Code (the Code) §62.002, which provides the State Seed and Plant Board with the authority to establish standards of genetic purity and identity as necessary for the efficient enforcement of agricultural interests; the Code §62.008, which provides the department with the authority to fix and collect a fee for the issuance of a certification label; and the Code §12.016, which provides the department with the authority to adopt rules for administration of the code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 8, 2002.

TRD-200200828

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Effective date: February 28, 2002

Proposal publication date: January 4, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075


Subchapter B. FIELD INSPECTION CHART

4 TAC §10.12

The amendment to §10.12 is adopted under the Texas Agriculture Code (the Code), §62.002, which provides the State Seed and Plant Board with the authority to establish standards of genetic purity and identity as necessary for the efficient enforcement of agricultural interest and the Code §12.016, which provides the department with the authority to adopt rules for administration of the code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 8, 2002.

TRD-200200829

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Effective date: February 28, 2002

Proposal publication date: January 4, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075


Subchapter C. ACREAGE INSPECTION FEES FOR CERTIFICATION

4 TAC §10.13

The amendment to §10.13 is adopted under the Texas Agriculture Code (the Code), §62.002, which provides the State Seed and Plant Board with the authority to establish standards of genetic purity and identity as necessary for the efficient enforcement of agricultural interest and the Code §12.016, which provides the department with the authority to adopt rules for administration of the code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 8, 2002.

TRD-200200830

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Effective date: February 28, 2002

Proposal publication date: January 4, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075


Subchapter D. LABORATORY ANALYSIS CHART

4 TAC §10.14

The amendment to §10.14 is adopted under the Texas Agriculture Code (the Code), §62.002, which provides the State Seed and Plant Board with the authority to establish standards of genetic purity and identity as necessary for the efficient enforcement of agricultural interest and the Code §12.016, which provides the department with the authority to adopt rules for administration of the Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 8, 2002.

TRD-200200831

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Effective date: February 28, 2002

Proposal publication date: January 4, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075


Subchapter F. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF CERTAIN CROPS

4 TAC §10.21, §10.22

The amendments to §10.21 and §10.22 are adopted under the Texas Agriculture Code (the Code), §62.002, which provides the State Seed and Plant Board with the authority to establish standards of genetic purity and identity as necessary for the efficient enforcement of agricultural interest and the Code §12.016, which provides the department with the authority to adopt rules for administration of the code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 8, 2002.

TRD-200200832

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Effective date: February 28, 2002

Proposal publication date: January 4, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075