AB 511

This bill makes the following changes to requirements that apply to fertilizers

and soil or plant additives that are produced from converting manure into compost

or vermicompost and their derivatives:

1. The bill allows a person to distribute a fertilizer that is produced from

converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives and that has

a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is less than 24

percent of the total weight of the fertilizer. Current law requires a fertilizer

distributed in this state to be guaranteed to contain a combined weight of nitrogen,

phosphorous, and potassium that is at least 24 percent of the total weight of the

fertilizer, unless either 1) the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer

Protection promulgates a rule exempting the fertilizer; or 2) DATCP grants a permit

authorizing the distribution of the fertilizer as a nonagricultural or special-use

fertilizer.

2. The bill also exempts a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure

into compost from being required to contain a minimum amount of certain plant

nutrients. Additionally, under the bill, a label, invoice, or statement accompanying

fertilizer produced from converting manure into compost is allowed to represent the

amount of plant nutrients or other beneficial substances contained in the fertilizer

if the truthfulness of the representation is substantiated by a typical analysis or

other scientifically validated analytical method.

3. Under the bill, DATCP may not require a controlled experimental field test

to substantiate the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive produced from

converting manure into compost. Under current law, DATCP may require the

efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive to be substantiated by controlled

experimental studies using the soil or plant additive.

4. The bill allows the truthfulness of a statement on a permit application or

label of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost to be

substantiated by a typical analysis. Current law requires the label of a soil or plant

additive to make a guarantee about the minimum amount of the substances that it

contains.