{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/3.2-4026.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/3.2-4026.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/3.2-4026.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/3.2-4026.html"}],"law_id":357684,"edition_id":2,"section_id":357684,"structure_id":51167,"section_number":"3.2-4026","catch_line":"Illegal use of word “certified”; who may make certification; standards; penalty","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 3-227; 1966, c. 702, \u00a7 3.1-283; 1980, c. 413; 2008, c. 860.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is unlawful for any person to use the term “certified” or imply certification relative to any agricultural seeds, vegetable seeds, tubers for planting purposes, or plants offered for sale unless such seeds, tubers, or plants have been certified as follows:\n\n1\n\nIf the seeds, tubers, or plants were produced in another state or in a foreign country, certification by authorized inspection officials of the place of origin shall be sufficient if accepted by the Board.\n\n2\n\nIf the seeds, tubers, or plants were produced in Virginia, certification shall be by the producers under authorization of the Board, its agents, or the Department.\n\nB\n\nAny person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Each violation shall be a separate offense.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1331194,"text":"It is unlawful for any person to use the term “certified” or imply certification relative to any agricultural seeds, vegetable seeds, tubers for planting purposes, or plants offered for sale unless such seeds, tubers, or plants have been certified as follows:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":1331195,"text":"If the seeds, tubers, or plants were produced in another state or in a foreign country, certification by authorized inspection officials of the place of origin shall be sufficient if accepted by the Board.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":1331196,"text":"If the seeds, tubers, or plants were produced in Virginia, certification shall be by the producers under authorization of the Board, its agents, or the Department.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"B"},"3":{"id":1331197,"text":"Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Each violation shall be a separate offense.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":51167,"edition_id":2,"name":"Certified Seed Board","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":2,"parent_id":51165,"metadata":{"child_laws":7,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:38:27","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:37","permalink":{"id":1423143,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51167,"identifier":"2","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2","url":"\/3.2\/III\/40\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51165,"edition_id":2,"name":"Seeds","identifier":"40","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":8,"parent_id":51149,"metadata":{"child_laws":28,"child_structures":2},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:38:24","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:37","permalink":{"id":1423055,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51165,"identifier":"40","token":"3.2\/III\/40","url":"\/3.2\/III\/40\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51149,"edition_id":2,"name":"Production and Sale of Agricultural Products","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":4,"parent_id":51103,"metadata":{"child_laws":398,"child_structures":44},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:38:09","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:34","permalink":{"id":1422445,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51149,"identifier":"III","token":"3.2\/III","url":"\/3.2\/III\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51103,"edition_id":2,"name":"Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","identifier":"3.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":5,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1194,"child_structures":151},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:37:33","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:27","permalink":{"id":1420941,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51103,"identifier":"3.2","token":"3.2","url":"\/3.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":357679,"structure_id":51167,"section_number":"3.2-4021","catch_line":"Certified Seed Board; purpose","url":"\/3.2-4021\/","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4021","metadata":false},{"id":357680,"structure_id":51167,"section_number":"3.2-4022","catch_line":"Membership; terms; quorum; meetings","url":"\/3.2-4022\/","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4022","metadata":false},{"id":357681,"structure_id":51167,"section_number":"3.2-4023","catch_line":"Compensation and expenses","url":"\/3.2-4023\/","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4023","metadata":false},{"id":357682,"structure_id":51167,"section_number":"3.2-4024","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Certified Seed Board","url":"\/3.2-4024\/","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4024","metadata":false},{"id":357683,"structure_id":51167,"section_number":"3.2-4025","catch_line":"Regulations","url":"\/3.2-4025\/","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4025","metadata":false},{"id":357684,"structure_id":51167,"section_number":"3.2-4026","catch_line":"Illegal use of word \"certified\"; who may make certification; standards; penalty","url":"\/3.2-4026\/","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4026","metadata":false},{"id":357685,"structure_id":51167,"section_number":"3.2-4027","catch_line":"Certification by Department, Commissioner, or Board not affected","url":"\/3.2-4027\/","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4027","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":357683,"structure_id":51167,"section_number":"3.2-4025","catch_line":"Regulations","url":"\/3.2-4025\/","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4025","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":357685,"structure_id":51167,"section_number":"3.2-4027","catch_line":"Certification by Department, Commissioner, or Board not affected","url":"\/3.2-4027\/","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4027","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-4026\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1966, chapter 702; in 1980, chapter 413; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1423165,"object_type":"law","relational_id":357684,"identifier":"3.2-4026","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4026","url":"\/3.2-4026\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-4026\/","token":"3.2\/III\/40\/2\/3.2-4026","dublin_core":{"Title":"Illegal use of word “certified”; who may make certification; standards; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-4026","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It is unlawful for any person to use the term “certified” or imply certification relative to any agricultural seeds<\/span>, vegetable seeds<\/span>, tubers for planting purposes, or plants offered for sale<\/span> unless such seeds, tubers, or plants have been certified as follows: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> If the seeds, tubers, or plants were produced in another state or in a foreign country, certification by authorized inspection officials of the place of origin<\/span> shall be sufficient if accepted by the Board<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> If the seeds, tubers, or plants were produced in Virginia, certification shall be by the producers under authorization of the Board<\/span>, its agents, or the Department<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor<\/span>. Each violation shall be a separate offense<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nILLEGAL USE OF WORD “CERTIFIED”; WHO MAY MAKE CERTIFICATION;\nSTANDARDS; PENALTY (\u00a7 3.2-4026)\n\nA. It is unlawful for any person to use the term “certified” or\nimply certification relative to any agricultural seeds, vegetable seeds, tubers\nfor planting purposes, or plants offered for sale unless such seeds, tubers, or\nplants have been certified as follows:\n\n 1. If the seeds, tubers, or plants were produced in another state or in a\n foreign country, certification by authorized inspection officials of the place\n of origin shall be sufficient if accepted by the Board.\n\n 2. If the seeds, tubers, or plants were produced in Virginia, certification\n shall be by the producers under authorization of the Board, its agents, or the\n Department.\n\nB. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Each\nviolation shall be a separate offense.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 3-227; 1966, c. 702, \u00a7 3.1-283; 1980, c. 413; 2008, c.\n860.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}