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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>357684</law_id><section_number>3.2-4026</section_number><catch_line>Illegal use of word &amp;#8220;certified&amp;#8221;; who may make certification; standards; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="5" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="4" identifier="III">Production and Sale of Agricultural Products</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="8" identifier="40">Seeds</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="2" identifier="2">Certified Seed Board</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It is unlawful for any person to use the term &#x201C;certified&#x201D; or imply certification relative to any <span class="dictionary">agricultural seeds</span>, <span class="dictionary">vegetable seeds</span>, tubers for planting purposes, or plants offered for <span class="dictionary">sale</span> unless such seeds, tubers, or plants have been certified as follows: <a id="paragraph-1331194" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4026/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">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 <span class="dictionary">origin</span> shall be sufficient if accepted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-1331195" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4026/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If the seeds, tubers, or plants were produced in Virginia, certification shall be by the producers under authorization of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, its agents, or the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. <a id="paragraph-1331196" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4026/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. Each violation shall be a separate <span class="dictionary">offense</span>. <a id="paragraph-1331197" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4026/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 3-227; 1966, c. 702, &#xA7; 3.1-283; 1980, c. 413; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
