California Seed Law: annual registration fee: Seed Advisory Board

The law provides additional industry-funded support for California’s seed-regulation program. It also gives the Secretary of Food and Agriculture limited authority to adjust the fee after consulting the Seed Advisory Board.

What the law does ​

• Raises the annual registration fee for covered seed labelers and sellers from $40 to $100.
• Beginning January 1, 2028, allows the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to raise the fee by up to $50 annually, after consulting the Seed Advisory Board, capped at $300.
• Requires the secretary to set registration fees and annual assessments at levels sufficient to fund the California Seed Law program.
• Requires the Seed Advisory Board to recommend registration-fee and assessment levels.

Who it affects ​

• Agricultural and vegetable seed labelers and sellers required to register under the California Seed Law.
• The California Department of Food and Agriculture and its Seed Advisory Board.