Purpose

• Clarify labeling requirements for plant amendments, soil amendments, and beneficial substances.
• Update how the “guaranteed analysis” is shown on labels.
• Require applicants to submit a certificate of composition when registering these products.
• Organize and code changes into Minnesota law (chapter 18C).

Key definitions added

• Active ingredient: An ingredient in a fertilizer, soil amendment, plant amendment, or beneficial substance that is a plant nutrient or a soil/plant amending ingredient.
• Inert ingredient: An ingredient that is not an active ingredient in the product.

Main provisions (what the bill changes or adds)

• Guaranteed analysis updates:

  • The guaranteed analysis must accurately reflect the product’s composition, including the percentages of each active ingredient.
  • For microbiological products, the label must also list the number of viable microorganisms per milliliter (for liquids) or per gram (for dry products).

• Labeling requirements (18C.217):

  • Products may not be sold or distributed without a label on the bag/container that includes:
  • Product name
  • Net weight or net volume (in both imperial and metric units)
  • Name and address of the guarantor and registrant
  • The product’s purpose
  • Directions for use
  • The guaranteed analysis of each active ingredient
  • If the product contains microorganisms, the label must include expiration date and recommended storage conditions.
  • Inert ingredients do not need to be listed on the label.
  • For bulk shipments to a single end consumer, a single printed form with the required information can be used instead of labeling the bulk bag/container.

• Registration applications (18C.411, subdivision 2, amended):

  • For specialty fertilizers:
  • Name and address of guarantor and registrant
  • Brand and grade
  • Guaranteed analysis (as required by 18C.211)
  • Sources of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, or other elements
  • Amount and formulas of inert ingredients
  • For soil amendments and plant amendments:
  • Name and address of guarantor and registrant
  • Brand name
  • Sources of ingredients
  • Guaranteed analysis (as required by 18C.211)
  • A certificate of composition describing the amount and formulas of each inert ingredient and each beneficial substance in the formula

• Certification of composition:

  • Registrations for soil/plant amendments and related products must include a certificate of composition detailing inert ingredients and beneficial substances.

Significant changes to existing law

• New definitions for active and inert ingredients added to 18C.005.
• Guaranteed analysis requirements expanded to include active ingredient percentages and, for microbiological products, viable microorganism counts.
• Labeling requirements clarified and standardized, including expiration date and storage provisions for products with microorganisms; inert ingredients are not required to be listed.
• Registration forms and requirements updated to require a certificate of composition and detailed ingredient sources.

Administrative notes

• The revisor of statutes must renumber subdivisions in 18C.005 in alphabetical order and correct cross-references.

Implementation considerations

• Businesses must ensure product labels meet the new content requirements (including purpose, directions, and active ingredient percentages).
• Companies with microbiological products must include expiration dates and storage guidance.
• Registrants must prepare and submit a certificate of composition with their registrations.

Implementation timeline

• The bill outlines changes to statutes and labeling/registration processes but does not specify exact dates for implementation within the text provided.

Summary of impact

• Improves transparency about product contents and ingredients.
• Gives regulators clearer criteria for labeling, including how to handle microbiological products.
• Requires more detailed documentation (certificate of composition) for registration.

Relevant Terms - Active ingredient - Inert ingredient - Guaranteed analysis - Microbiological product - Viable microorganisms - Per milliliter - Per gram - Labeling - Guarantor - Registrant - Brand - Grade - Net weight - Net volume - Sources of nutrients (N, P, K) - Certificate of composition - Soil amendment - Plant amendment - Beneficial substance - Expiration date - Storage conditions - Crossreferences - Revisor of statutes