Which regulation would apply to the expiration date of seeds?

The regulation that applies to the expiration date of seeds is the "use before date." This date indicates the timeframe in which the seeds are expected to maintain their viability and potential for germination. By specifying a use before date, seed producers provide crucial information to consumers, ensuring that they can utilize the seeds while they are still effective. Seed viability can decline over time due to various factors, including storage conditions and inherent seed characteristics, making this date important for users to achieve successful planting outcomes.

In contrast, other options such as "sell by date," "harvest date," and "test date" do not specifically relate to the viability of seeds in the way a use before date does. The sell by date primarily concerns retail management rather than seed effectiveness for consumers, while the harvest date pertains to the time when the seeds were collected, which does not reflect their potential for germination. The test date may refer to when the seeds were tested for quality but does not specify the timeframe for optimal use. Thus, the use before date is the most relevant regulation for determining how long seeds can be expected to perform effectively.