With the exception of the chives, most all seeds, assuming well dried before stored, will last for years. The seeds you buy marked "packed for 2008" were harvested, dried, and stored in 2007 (or earlier sometimes). ;)

Room temperature is fine or you can freeze or refrigerate the packets. I store mine in a glass jar in the freezer and get excellent germination rates even after 5 years. And seeds as old as 20 years have been germinated and grown by others.

Chives can be picky about germination but year old seeds should still give you good germination. After a year they fall off germinating rather quickly I have found.

Dave

Parsley only lasts about a year also.
Remy

Thanks so much!