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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" citation="COMAR 15.18.03.01" title_num="15" subtitle_num="18" chapter_num="03" heading="Definitions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Agricultural land” means land used for the production of crops or for raising livestock.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Brand” means the term, design, trademark, or other specific designation under which a commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner is distributed in the State.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Commercial Fertilizer.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Commercial fertilizer” means any substance containing a recognized plant nutrient used for its plant nutrient content and designed for use or claimed to have value in promoting plant growth, except unmanipulated animal and vegetable manure, marl, lime, wood ashes, or gypsum.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Commercial fertilizer” includes a fertilizer-pesticide or a specialty fertilizer as defined by this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The definitions of identity for a commercial fertilizer are provided in COMAR 15.18.01.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Custom-mix” means any commercial fertilizer mixed on specific request of a purchaser according to a formula furnished by the purchaser.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Department” means the Maryland Department of Agriculture.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Distribute” means to import, manufacture, produce, compound, mix, blend, barter, sell, offer for sale, consign, furnish, provide, or otherwise supply a commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner as part of a commercial enterprise.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Grade” means the percentage of total nitrogen (N), available phosphoric acid or phosphate (P2O5), and soluble potash (K2O) stated in whole numbers in the same terms, order, and percentages as in the “guaranteed analysis”. Any “specialty fertilizer” or “mixed-to-order fertilizer” guarantee may be stated in decimal fractions of whole numbers.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Guaranteed analysis” means the minimum percentage of plant nutrients claimed as follows:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Total nitrogen (N), available phosphate (P2O5), soluble potash (K2O);</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For unacidulated mineral phosphatic materials and basic slag, both total and available phosphate and the degree of fineness;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>For bone, tankage, and other organic phosphatic materials, total phosphate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Additional plant nutrients, when claimed, are to be expressed in elemental form; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Potential basicity or acidity may be expressed in terms of calcium carbonate equivalent in multiples of 100 pounds per ton.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Industrial sludge” means the accumulated semiliquid suspension, settled, or dried residue of solids deposited as a by-product of an industrial, agricultural, or manufacturing process that is claimed to have value in promoting plant growth, or in producing a physical or chemical change in the soil.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Label” means the display of all written, printed, or graphic matter on the immediate container or a statement accompanying a commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Labeling” means all written, printed, or graphic matter on or accompanying any commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner, or the contents of any advertisement, brochure, poster, or television or radio announcement used in promoting the sale of a commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>“Lot” means a definite quantity of commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner, identified by name, grade, or code designation as certified by the Secretary.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>“Microorganism” means organisms of microscopic size intended for use as a nitrogen-fixation agent which are claimed to have value in promoting plant growth.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>“Origin” means the original physical source of the product or nutrient.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>“Percent” or “percentage” means percentage by weight.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(16)">
      <text>“Person” includes the State, any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the State, or any of their units, or an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, executor, administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind, or any partnership, firm, association, public or private corporation, or any other entity unless otherwise provided.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(17)">
      <text>“Primary plant nutrient” means a plant food that is essential for normal plant growth and includes nitrogen (N), available phosphate (P2O5), and potash (K2O).</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(18)">
      <text>“Registrant” means any person who registers a commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(19)">
      <text>Secondary and Micro Plant Nutrients.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Secondary and micro plant nutrients” means nutrients, other than the primary nutrients, that are essential for normal growth of plants.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Secondary plant nutrients” include calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S).</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>“Micronutrients” include boron (B), chlorine (Cl), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), sodium (Na), and zinc (Zn).</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(20)">
      <text>“Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary's designee.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(21)">
      <text>Soil Conditioner.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Soil conditioner” means any substance or mixture of substances, except a commercial fertilizer, unmanipulated animal and vegetable manures, agricultural liming material, or gypsum, intended for sale, offered for sale, or sold for:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Manurial, soil enriching, or soil corrective purposes;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Promoting or stimulating the growth of plants;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Increasing the productivity of plants;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Improving the quality of crops; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Producing any chemical or physical change in the soil.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Soil conditioner” includes, but is not limited to, microorganisms and materials such as compost, peat, vermiculite, perlite, or digestate produced by anaerobic digestion that are incorporated into the soil.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(22)">
      <text>“Specialty fertilizer” means a commercial fertilizer distributed primarily for nonfarm use, such as home garden, lawn, shrubbery, flowers, golf course, municipal park, cemetery, greenhouse, or nursery, and may include a fertilizer used for any research or experimental purpose.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>