Title FAC, California Food & Agric. Code

“Biochar” means materials derived from thermochemical conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment containing at least 60 percent carbon. (Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 331, Sec. 2. (AB 2511) Effective January 1, 2017.)

“Biotics” means all materials for which claims are made relating to organisms, enzymes, or organism by-products. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Board” means the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Brand” means any term, design, or trademark used in connection with a fertilizing material product. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Bulk material” means fertilizing materials distributed in nonpackaged form or in a container containing more than 50 kilograms or 110 pounds. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Business location” means any place where fertilizing materials are sold or stored for later sale, except storage of package materials on premises operated exclusively as a public warehouse. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Captured dilute solutions” means solutions that contain low levels of plant nutrients as a result of equipment rinsing and runoff. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Chelates” means compounds, usually organic, which can combine with a metal ion and form a ring structure between a portion of the chelating agent molecule and the metal. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Chelated plant nutrients” means compounds of metallic secondary nutrients and micronutrients with organic chelating agents which have the property of being available under pH conditions in which the nutrients normally form insoluble compounds. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990,…

“Commercial fertilizer” means any substance which contains 5 percent or more of nitrogen (N), available phosphoric acid (P2O5), or soluble potash (K2O), singly or collectively, which is distributed in this state for promoting or stimulating plant growth. “Commercial fertilizer” i…

“Common carrier” means a company licensed with the Public Utilities Commission that hauls for hire. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Complex” means bonding which includes both of the following: (a) “Natural organic complexes” means organic by-products of the wood pulp and other industries, such as the lignin sulfonates and polyflavinoids, that form complexes with metallic secondary nutrients and micronutrient…

“Compost” means a biologically stable material derived from the composting process. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Composting” means the biological decomposition of organic matter which inhibits pathogens, viable weed seeds, and odors. “Composting” may be accomplished by mixing and piling in a way as to promote aerobic or anaerobic decay, or both. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504,…

“Derivation statement” means the sources of all guaranteed primary nutrients or secondary nutrients, or both, and micronutrients. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Discontinued manufacturing” means a beneficial substance, packaged agricultural mineral, organic input material, and specialty fertilizer that is no longer manufactured, but is still offered for sale. (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 208, Sec. 5. (SB 1522) Effective January 1, 2025.…

“Distribute” means to sell, offer, expose for sale, exchange, barter, or otherwise supply products for use in, or shipment within or into, this state. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Distributor” means any person who imports or consigns a fertilizing material or who offers for sale, sells, barters, or othewise supplies this product for use in, or shipment within or into, this state. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Experimental use” means any application of a fertilizing material which is not offered for sale, has no commercial value, and is for the sole purpose of obtaining scientific data. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Farm use” means that the fertilizing material is used primarily for application to crops produced for commercial value. (Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 257, Sec. 2. (AB 856) Effective January 1, 2010.)

“Fertilizing material” means any commercial fertilizer, agricultural mineral, beneficial substance, or organic input material. (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 208, Sec. 6. (SB 1522) Effective January 1, 2025.)

“Fish emulsion” means fertilizing material from which the guaranteed nutrients are derived primarily from fish, which contains a minimum of 40 percent total solids from fish, and which may contain additional sources of nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, and soluble potash for s…

“Grade” means the percentage of total nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, and soluble potash stated in the same terms, order, and percentage as the guaranteed analysis. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Guaranteed analysis” means the minimum percentage of primary or secondary plant nutrients or micronutrients, or both, claimed. (Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

(a) “Gypsum” means calcium sulfate dihydrate, a mineral used in the fertilizer industry as a source of calcium and sulfur which is also known as landplaster. (b) “Phosphatic sulfate gypsum” means a by-product of calcium dihydrate from the manufacture of phosphoric acid, also know…

“Hydroponics” means a system in which water soluble primary or secondary plant nutrients or micronutrients, or combination thereof, are placed in intimate contact with the plant’s root system, being grown in a water or an inert supportive medium which supplies physical support fo…

“Investigational allowance” means an allowance for variation inherent in the taking, preparation, and analysis of an official sample of fertilizing materials. (Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Label” means the display of all written, printed, or graphic matter on the immediate container of, or a statement, including the guaranteed analysis, accompanying fertilizing material. (Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Label guarantor” means the manufacturer’s or person’s name appearing on the label of a fertilizing material. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Labeling” means all written, printed, or graphic matter on, accompanying, or used in promoting the sale of any fertilizing material, including advertisements, brochures, posters, internet websites, and television and radio announcements. (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 208, Sec. 7.…

“Licensee” means a person who has obtained a license pursuant to this chapter. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Manufacturer” means a person who produces, sells, or distributes a fertilizing material in this state that bears their company name on the label and is the guarantor. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Manure” means any substances composed primarily of animal excrement, plant remains, or mixtures of those substances. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Micronutrients” means boron, chlorine, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, or zinc, alone or in any combination. (Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Mixed fertilizer” is a commercial fertilizer containing any combination or mixture of fertilizing materials. (Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Natural organic fertilizer” means materials derived from either plant or animal products containing one or more nutrients other than carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which are essential for plant growth, which may be subjected to biological degradation processes under normal condit…

“Noncommercial use” means materials used primarily for application to lawns, shrubbery, flowers, trees, or where there is no crop for commercial value or economic purpose, excluding golf courses, cemeteries, and nurseries. (Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Official sample” means any sample of fertilizing material taken by an agent of the department and designated as “official” by the department. (Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Organic input material” means any bulk or packaged commercial fertilizer, agricultural mineral, beneficial substance, or specialty fertilizer, excluding pesticides, that is to be used in organic crop and food production and that complies with the requirements of the National Org…

“Packaged” means a fertilizing material distributed in packaged form or in a container containing equal to or less than 50 kilograms or 110 pounds. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Percent or percentage” means percentage by weight. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Person” means individual, partnership, association, firm, limited liability company, or corporation who assumes responsibility for the product. (Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1010, Sec. 126. Effective January 1, 1995.)

“Plant” means any business location where fertilizing materials are manufactured, sold, or stored for later sale, except storage of packaged materials on premises operated exclusively as a public warehouse. (Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Plant biostimulant” means a substance or microorganism, or mixtures thereof, that, when applied to seeds, plants, the rhizosphere, soil, or other growth media, act to support a plant’s natural nutrition processes independently of the biostimulant’s nutrient content. The plant bi…

“Primary plant nutrient” means nitrogen (N), available phosphoric acid (P2O5), or soluble potash (K2O). (Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

“Provisional registration” means that under certain circumstances, a label for renewal on a beneficial substance, packaged agricultural mineral, organic input material, or specialty fertilizer, alone or in any combination, may be registered for a limited period of time while labe…