Minnesota Administrative Rules

1510.0412 LABEL INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS.

Subpart 1.

Information and format.

Specialty fertilizers offered for sale, sold, or distributed in this state, in bags or other containers, must have placed on or affixed to the container the following information in the following format except as provided in part 1510.0413:

A.

net weight;

B.

brand and grade, provided that:

(1)

the grade is not required if no primary nutrients are claimed;

(2)

the grade on the label is optional if the fertilizer is used only for agricultural purposes and the guaranteed analysis statement is shown in the complete form as in Minnesota Statutes, section 18C.211 or 18C.215, subdivision 2, paragraph (a);

(3)

no numerals that misrepresent the plant food or product composition of the fertilizer may be used in the brand name of a fertilizer; and

(4)

if the name of a fertilizer material is used as part of its brand name, such as blood, bone, or fish, the nutrients guaranteed must be derived or supplied entirely by the material named;

C.

guaranteed analysis, which is the minimum percentage of plant nutrients claimed in the following form:

Total Nitrogen (N)	____%
____%	Ammoniacal Nitrogen
____%	Nitrate Nitrogen
____%	Water Insoluble Nitrogen
____%	Urea Nitrogen
____%	Other approved and determinable forms of Nitrogen

Available Phosphate (P2O5)	____%
Soluble Potash (K2O)	____%
Secondary and Micro plant nutrients (elemental basis)	____%

D.

a derivative statement indicating the sources of plant nutrients, listing the common or usual English name of all ingredients used in manufacturing or blending the fertilizer must be placed immediately below the guaranteed analysis statement;

E.

name and address of guarantor;

F.

a direction for use statement.

Subp. 2.

Secondary and micro plant nutrients permitted.

The commissioner shall accept guarantees only for the additional secondary and micro plant nutrients listed in this subpart. These additional plant nutrients in a particular fertilizer may be guaranteed if they meet the following minimum content requirements:

Plant Nutrient	Minimum Percent Allowed
Calcium (Ca)	1.00
Magnesium (Mg)	0.50
Sulfur (S)	1.00
Boron (B)	0.02
Chlorine (Cl)	0.10
Cobalt (Co)	0.0005
Copper (Cu)	0.05
Iron (Fe)	0.10
Manganese (Mn)	0.05
Molybdenum (Mo)	0.0005
Sodium (Na)	0.10
Zinc (Zn)	0.05

Subp. 3.

Procedures.

If any of the plant nutrients in subpart 2 are guaranteed, the procedures in items A to F must be followed for labels and labeling.

A.

The plant nutrients must be listed immediately following nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

B.

The plant nutrients must appear in the format listed in subpart 2.

C.

The plant nutrients must appear in the order listed in subpart 2.

D.

The plant nutrients must be stated on the elemental basis.

E.

The percentages of each of the plant nutrients contained in the fertilizer must be stated.

F.

Water soluble nutrients labeled for hydroponic or continuous feeding programs and guarantees for potting soils are exempt from the minimum guarantee requirement.

Subp. 4.

Prohibition.

If the minimum requirement stated in subpart 2 is not met for a particular plant nutrient, labels and labeling for the fertilizer may not contain any statement regarding that particular plant nutrient.

Subp. 5.

Breakdown of plant food elements within the guaranteed analysis.

When a plant nutrient guarantee is broken down into the component forms, the percentage for each component must be shown before the name of the form. Descriptive terms may be used to identify both the total nutrient and its components. Zero guarantees are not acceptable as noted in part 1510.0413, however, they are allowed in the nutrient breakdown guarantees.

Total Nitrogen (N)	____%
____% Ammoniacal Nitrogen
____% Nitrate Nitrogen
Magnesium (Mg)	____%
____% Water Soluble Magnesium (Mg)
Sulfur (S)	____%
____% Free Sulfur (S)
____% Combined Sulfur (S)
Iron (Fe)	____%
____% Chelated Iron (Fe)

Subp. 6.

Mentioned plant nutrients.

Plant nutrients, when mentioned in any form or manner on any label or labeling, must be listed and guaranteed.

Subp. 7.

Additional nonplant food materials.

Additional information that is not listed in subparts 1, item C; 2; and 5 may not appear in the guaranteed analysis statement, but may appear on the label if placed below and separate from the guaranteed analysis statement.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 17.725; 18C.121

History:

19 SR 2485

Published Electronically:

July 24, 2008