Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program

The fertilizer registration program ensures fertilizer products are in compliance with California Code of Regulations for fertilizer. Product labels are reviewed in the order they are submitted. It generally takes 60 to 90 days to complete a fertilizer registration. It is unlawful to sell an unregistered fertilizer product in California. To ensure your product fulfills registration, please begin the registration process 6 months in advance of planned date of first sale.

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Online Application Database

Sign up on our online database for ease of your fertilizer materials registration. Through the database, you can apply for and manage fertilizer licenses and registrations; calculate and pay your required mill and tonnage reports; and view correspondence from registration staff.

New to the database? Choose Enroll New User on the top of the sign-in screen.

Need a paper application? Use these forms to register:

• Fertilizing Materials License Application
• Do I need a Fertilizing Materials License?
• Fertilizing Materials License Renewal Application
• Conventional Fertilizing Materials Registration Application

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Registration Labeling Aids

Labeling guide, flow charts, and checklists to help with specific registration topics.

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Fertilizer Laws and Regulations

Review the pertinent sections of the California Food and Agriculture Code and the California Code of Regulations (CCR).

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American Plant Food Control Officials

The fertilizer registration program follows the guidelines of the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO).

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Already have a product and need a label update?

Use this form to submit changes to CDFA:

• OIM Registration Update
• Conventional Registration Update Form

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Register your Organic Input Material

Database Video Instructions

Find Your Inspector

Fertilizer Notices to Industry

• AB 856 Organic Input Materials - 12.28.09
• Ammonium Nitrate - 12.14.05
• Base Fertilizing Ingredients - 03.30.10
• Bat Guano - 05.12.17
• Beneficial Substances / Plant Biostimulant Labeling - 12.11.24
• Chelates Containing NPK - 08.21.95
• Foliar Elemental Sulfur - 05.24.04
• Four-Year Registration Cycle - 12.11.24
• Gypsum - 03.24.99
• Heavy Metals Analysis - 08.12.20
• Humic Acid - Acceptable Product Claims - 02.13.03
• Humic Acid Method - 03.15.09
• Mycohrizae propagules - 05.18.20
• Organic Disclosure - 06.18.12
• Organic Input Materials License & Registration - 12.24.10
• Phosphorous Acid - 03.30.04
• Provisional Registration - 11.29.21
• Registration of Ammonia Extracts - 12.15.21
• Seabird Guano - 09.01.22
• Seaweed and Kelp Extracts – 05.23.23
• Silicon - 07.13.20
• Weight and Measures - 05.22.17

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Current Fertilizing Materials Information

• Fertilizer Product Database
  Find a product in the channels of trade
• Fertilizer Licensee List
  List of current fertilizer licenses
• Fertilizer Tonnage Report by Year
  Yearly tonnage numbers

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Fertilizing Materials Complaint Form

Use this form to communicate complaints about fertilizing materials.

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Fertilizing Materials Inspection Fees

A licensee whose name appears as the guarantor on the label who sells or distributes bulk fertilizing materials to the end user or whose name appears on the label of a packaged fertilizing material shall pay to the secretary an assessment not to exceed two mills ($0.002) per dollar of sales of all fertilizing materials. In addition, the secretary may impose an assessment in the amount not to exceed one mill ($0.001) per dollar of sales of fertilizing materials to provide funding for research and education regarding the use and handling of commercial and organic fertilizer, including environmental effects. The current assessment is one mill ($0.001) per dollar of sales for all fertilizing materials, and an additional one mill ($0.001) per dollar of sales of fertilizing materials to provide funding for research and education regarding the use and handling of commercial and organic fertilizer, including environmental effects. Inspection fees are due on a quarterly basis.

Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board

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Proposed Legislative Action

No pending legislation at this time.