<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 15.18.03.02" title_num="15" subtitle_num="18" chapter_num="03" heading="Registration.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Registration.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as provided by this chapter, a person shall register with the Department each brand and grade of commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner before it is distributed in this State. A person who registers any product that is distributed as a combination product shall comply with the applicable regulatory requirements in this chapter for each product contained in the combination product. Examples of combination products regulated by the Secretary are fertilizer-lime and fertilizer-pesticide products.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the product label has not been altered or changed, a distributor is not required to register any brand or grade of commercial fertilizer or brand of soil conditioner which has been registered under this chapter by another person.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An applicant for registration shall submit to the Department the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A completed registration application provided by the Department;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A copy of the product label and, if requested by the Secretary, other labeling describing the product; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The registration fee of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>$15 for each brand and grade registered in bulk or in a package of more than 10 pounds, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>$30 for each brand and grade registered in a package of 10 pounds or less.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The following are exempt from registration under this chapter:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Unmanipulated animal and vegetable manure;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Custom-mix fertilizer product; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Fertilizer product whose nutrient content is derived solely from sewage sludge, as regulated by COMAR 26.04.06.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Registration Renewal.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>By February 1 of each year, a registrant shall renew the registration for each brand and grade of commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner distributed in this State.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An applicant for registration renewal shall submit to the Department the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A completed registration renewal application on a form provided by the Department;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A copy of the product label and any other printed materials describing the product, if:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The label has been altered or changed since the product label was last approved, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>5 years have passed since the product label was last submitted to the Department; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The registration fee of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>$15 for each brand and grade registered in bulk or in a package of more than 10 pounds, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>$30 for each brand and grade registered in a package of 10 pounds or less.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Registration of Commercial Fertilizer.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A registrant of a commercial fertilizer, except a custom-mix fertilizer, shall provide the Department with the following information on a form provided by the Department:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Package size and net weight;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Brand and grade under which the commercial fertilizer is distributed;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Guaranteed analysis showing the minimum percentage of plant nutrients claimed, as follows:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Total nitrogen (N) ___ percent,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Available phosphate (P2O5) ____ percent,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Soluble potash (K2O) ____ percent, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Other plant nutrients ____ percent;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Manufacturer's or registrant's telephone number and principal mailing address, including the street, city, state, and zip code; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Any other information the department requires.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Registration of Fertilizer-Pesticide. A registrant of a fertilizer-pesticide shall provide the Department with the following information on a form provided by the Department:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Package size and net weight;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Brand and grade under which the fertilizer-pesticide is distributed;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Guaranteed analysis showing the minimum percentage of plant nutrients claimed, as follows:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Total nitrogen (N) ____ percent,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Available phosphate (P2O5) ____ percent,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Soluble potash (K2O) ____ percent, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Other plant nutrients ____ percent;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Pesticide active ingredient or ingredients, and guarantees;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pesticide product registration number;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Manufacturer's or registrant's telephone number and principal mailing address, including the street address, city, state, and zip code; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Any other information the Department requires.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Registration of Soil Conditioner.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A registrant of a soil conditioner shall provide the Department with the following information:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Net weight or other measure approved by the Secretary;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Brand;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Accurate statement of the composition of the soil conditioner, and its intended use;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Manufacturer's or registrant's telephone number and principal mailing address, including the street address, city, state, and zip code; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Any other information the Department requires.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Registration of Microorganism. An applicant for registration of a soil conditioner containing a microorganism intended for use as a nitrogen-fixation agent shall provide the Department with the following information:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Brand;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Guaranteed analysis showing the type of bacteria, including genus and species, and the minimum number of viable bacteria per gram of product;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Manufacturer's or registrant's telephone number and principal mailing address, including the street address, city, state, and zip code; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Any other information the Department requires.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Registration of Industrial Sludge as a Fertilizer or Soil Conditioner.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Unless a commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner that contains industrial sludge is first registered as required by this chapter, a person may not distribute it in the State.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Industrial Sludge Testing.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A registrant shall provide the Department with test results required by the Department to determine whether the industrial sludge qualifies as a commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner before it is distributed in the State.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A registrant shall submit test results to the Department every 6 months after registration, or at intervals required by the Department.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Registration Prohibited. A person may not register with the Secretary as a commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner any product containing industrial sludge from a pulp and paper mill that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Uses chlorine or chlorine derivative processes; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Contains a controlled hazardous substance as defined by COMAR 26.13.01.03.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Statement of Origin. In addition to the other requirements of this chapter, an applicant for registration for a product that contains industrial sludge shall submit to the Secretary a product label, invoice, or statement showing the origin of the sludge.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Records. A person distributing an industrial sludge registered as a commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner shall maintain distribution records for 2 years after initial registration.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Registration of Guarantees of Phosphates.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An applicant for registration of a commercial fertilizer that contains unacidulated mineral phosphate materials or basic slag, or both, may guarantee the total phosphate and the available phosphate, or the degree of fineness, or both.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An applicant for registration of a commercial fertilizer containing bone, tankage, or other organic phosphatic materials may guarantee the total phosphate (P2O5).</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Registration of Guarantees other than Nitrogen, Phosphate, and Potash.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Secretary may require a guarantee of nutrients, if claimed by a registrant, other than nitrogen, phosphate, or potash, to be expressed in elemental form for a commercial fertilizer.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The applicant shall state on the application the sources of nutrients other than nitrogen, phosphate, and potash.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Identification of Ingredients. If required by the Secretary, an applicant shall list on the application the common or usual English name of all ingredients used in the manufacturing or blending of a commercial fertilizer or soil conditioner.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>Registration of Secondary Plant Nutrient or Micronutrient.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An applicant for registration of a commercial fertilizer shall state on the registration form, immediately following the guarantees for primary plant nutrients, the guarantee for any secondary plant nutrient or micronutrient claimed in any manner.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Any secondary plant nutrient or micronutrient claimed by the registrant shall be guaranteed:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>On an elemental basis;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>In the following order and at or above the minimum percentages accepted for registration, as listed in the following table:</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Uniform Guarantees. The plant nutrient content of each brand and grade of commercial fertilizer registered, the composition of each brand of soil conditioner registered, and the bacterial count of each brand of microorganism registered shall remain uniform for the period of registration.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>