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2007 SESSION

064373828
SENATE BILL NO. 234
Offered January 11, 2006
Prefiled January 10, 2006
A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.1-106.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to labeling fertilizer products.
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Patrons-- Ticer; Delegate: Sickles
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 3.1-106.5 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 3.1-106.5. Labeling.

A. The manufacturer or guarantor of any regulated product distributed in the Commonwealth shall affix a label to the container or provide an invoice at the time of delivery for bulk regulated product which sets forth in clear, legible and conspicuous form, in the English language, the following information:

1. The quantity statement;

2. The grade under a given brand; however, the grade shall not be required when no primary nutrients are claimed;

3. The guaranteed analysis, which shall:

(a) For fertilizers, conform to the following, with the percentage of each plant nutrient stated as follows: 


 (i)Total Nitrogen (N)                    .......... %
   Available Phosphate (P205)            .......... %
   Soluble Potash (K20)                  .......... %
(ii) For unacidulated mineral phosphate materials and
basic slag, bone, tankage, and other organic phosphate 
materials, the available phosphate (P205), or the degree
of fineness, or both, may also be guaranteed.

 (iii) Guarantees for plant nutrients other than nitrogen (N),
 available phosphate (P205), and potash (K20) shall be expressed in
 the form of the element. A statement of the sources of nutrients,
 including, by  way of example, but not by way of limitation, oxides,
 salt, and chelates, may be required on the application for 
 registration  of specialty fertilizers, and may  be included as a 
 parenthetical statement on the label. Degree of acidity or 
 alkalinity  (pH), beneficial substances, or compounds determinable
 by laboratory methods also may be guaranteed by permission 
 of the Commissioner and with the advice of the Director of the 
 Virginia Experiment  Station. When any degree of acidity or 
 alkalinity (pH), beneficial substances, or compounds are guaranteed,
 they shall be subject to inspection and analysis in accord
 with the methods and regulations prescribed by the Board;
 
      (b) For soil amendments, consist of a list of ingredients,
and may include a statement of naturally occurring nutrient levels;
 
      (c) For soil conditioners, including but not limited to 
 polyelectrolytes, contain the following information in the 
 following form:
 (i) Name of active ingredient                    .......... %
 (name and list all)
 (ii) Total other ingredients                     .......... %;

(d) For horticultural growing media, include a list of ingredients and other guarantees as required by regulation;

(e) When compost derived from sewage sludge, hazardous materials, unrendered animals or poultry or their parts, or other source material specified in regulations established by the Board is used as an ingredient, identify the source material of the compost; and

(f) Include a list of such other ingredients as may be required by the Board through regulation.

4. The name and address of the registrant or licensee, as the case may be.

B. A commercial fertilizer which that is formulated according to specifications provided by a consumer prior to mixing, or any fertilizer formulated for a consumer, shall be labeled to show (i) the quantity statement, (ii) the guaranteed analysis, and (iii) the name and address of the distributor or the licensee.

C. For horticultural growing media, a statement of added fertilizers, if any, shall be listed on the registration document and customer sales invoice.

D. Specialty fertilizer shall be labeled to provide:

1. The following precautionary statements:

a. Apply only as directed;

b. Application of fertilizer beyond recommended use can harm water quality of local streams, rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, and other major waterways;

c. Sweep fertilizer off pavement and sidewalks to prevent runoff into storm drains that could lead to waterways; and

d. Contact your local cooperative extension office for more information on the proper use of fertilizers.

2. The following directions for use:

a. Recommended application rates, in units of weight or volume per unit area of coverage; and

b. Recommended timing for fertilizer application and reapplication.