Cal. Code Regs. tit. 3, § 2303 – Labeling Requirements.

(a) Product name.
(b) Measurement.
1. (1) Net weight, of dry materials (not required for beneficial substances described in Section 2303(j)).
2. (2) Volume of liquid materials and the beneficial substances described in Section 2303(j).
3. (3) Net weight and volume measurement statements require US and metric units, except those distributed with a weight certificate.
4. (4) Density, (pounds per gallon at 68 degrees Fahrenheit), for bulk liquids only.
(c) Grade (for commercial fertilizer labels only).
(d) The licensed label guarantor's name and address.
1. (1) For bulk commercial fertilizers and bulk agricultural minerals, (excluding organic input materials), the last licensee distributing the fertilizing material is required to be represented as the label guarantor.
(e) Purpose of the product (for beneficial substances, packaged agricultural minerals, and specialty fertilizers).
(f) Directions for use (for beneficial substances, packaged agricultural minerals, and specialty fertilizers).
(g) A statement of composition showing the amount of each ingredient, which is the agent in a product primarily responsible for the intended effects (for beneficial substances) using the following format:
CONTAINS BENEFICIAL SUBSTANCE(S)
Name of beneficial substance
% (or acceptable units)
Species of microorganism
viable CFU/cm3, /mL, /g, or other acceptable units
(Identify and list all beneficial substances. Substances shall include ingredient source, if applicable. Ex. “humic acid from leonardite or saponin from Yucca schidigera”).
(h) A guaranteed analysis using the following format, terminology, and order presented (if claimed):
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS:
(1) Total Nitrogen (N)
__________%
__________%
Ammoniacal Nitrogen
__________%
Nitrate Nitrogen
__________%
Water Soluble Nitrogen or Other recognized and determinable forms of nitrogen
__________%
Water Insoluble Nitrogen
Available Phosphoric Acid (P₂O₅)
__________%
Soluble Potash (K₂O)
__________%
(2) Secondary and micronutrient guarantee minimums.
Calcium (Ca)
1.0000%
Magnesium (Mg)
0.5000%
Sulfur (S)
1.0000%
Boron (B)
0.0200%
Chlorine (Cl)
0.1000%
Cobalt (Co)
0.0005%
Copper (Cu)
0.0500%
__________% Chelated Copper
Iron (Fe)
0.1000%
__________% Chelated Iron
Manganese (Mn)
0.0500%
__________% Chelated Manganese
Molybdenum (Mo)
0.0005%
Sodium (Na)
0.1000%
Zinc (Zn)
0.0500%
__________% Chelated Zinc
(3) Liming material guarantees:
Compound(s) composing material
________%
(state specific compounds)
Calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE)
________%
Lime Score (BULK ONLY)
__________
Sieve Analysis (BULK ONLY)
Minimum % Passing:
10 mesh
____%
20 mesh
____%
40 mesh
____%
60 mesh
____%
100 mesh
____%
Moisture, maximum (BULK ONLY)
____%
(A)
The Lime Score is a numerical expression of the quality of lime and shall be determined in accordance with the equations and calculations set forth in the Oregon State University Fertilizer Guide for Fertilizer and Lime Materials, FG 52, reprinted 1998, as revised June 1990, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
(4) Gypsum guaranteed
Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate
(CaSO₄•2H₂0)
________X%
Calcium (Ca)
________X%
Sulfur (S)
________X%
(5) Gypsum equivalent guaranteed
Gypsum Equivalent
________X%
Calcium (Ca)
________X%
Sulfur (S)
________X%
(6) Other guarantees: (if approved by the secretary)
1. (i) A derivation statement directly following the last nutrient guarantee (for commercial fertilizers and agricultural mineral labels).
  1. (1) Abbreviations shall not appear in the derivation statement, with the exception of chelating agents.
  2. (2) For liming materials, the derivation statement shall follow the last guarantee.
2. (j) For beneficial substances intended to condition soils solely through physical means, in lieu of a statement of ingredient composition as required in 2303(g) or (k), the label shall include a list of non-nutritive ingredients in decreasing amounts present.
  1. (1) This includes, but is not limited to:
    1. (A) Hay, straw, peat moss, leaf mold, sand, gravel, coir, humus, rice hulls, perlite, vermiculite, wood products, and biochar.
    2. (B) Manures, meals, mulches, and composts without guarantees for plant nutrients.
    3. (C) Any product or mixture of products intended for use as a potting medium, planting mix, or soilless growing media.
  2. (2) This list of ingredients may also include wetting agents and/or tackifiers.
    1. (A) The claim “wetting agent added” and/or “tackifier added” can be made without guaranteeing the specific wetting agent/tackifier or the percentage of such, but the chemical name of the wetting agent and/or tackifier must be submitted at the time of registration along with the analytical method.
3. (k) The following format and guarantees, as applicable for the following products or ingredients, shall appear after the derivation statement of agricultural mineral and commercial fertilizer labels:
  ALSO CONTAINS BENFICIAL SUBSTANCE(S)
  Name of beneficial substance
  % (or acceptable units)
  Species of microorganism
  viable CFU/cm3, /mL, /g or other acceptable units
  (Identify and list all beneficial substances. Substances shall include ingredient source, if applicable. Ex. “humic acid from leonardite or saponin from Yucca schidigera”).
4. (l) Additional information, other than secondary or micronutrient guarantees, shall not appear in the guaranteed analysis statement.
5. (m) The guarantees for the forms of nitrogen must add up to the total nitrogen guarantee claimed and are recommended in the order appearing in the format shown in section 2303(i)(1).
6. (n) Zeros are required before the decimal points when less than one percent.
7. (o) For packaged products, the information found in section 2303(a) through (n) shall either:
  1. (1) Appear on the label, or
  2. (2) Be printed on a tag and attached to the package. This information shall be in a conspicuous form.
8. (p) For bulk products, the information found in section 2303(a) through (n) shall be in written or printed form and shall accompany the delivery. This information shall be in a conspicuous form.
9. (q) The manufacturer of any base fertilizing material ingredient that claims iron, manganese, zinc or phosphates shall provide a guarantee statement that the product does not exceed standards established for arsenic, cadmium and lead.
  1. (1) For purposes of the labeling guarantee, base fertilizing material ingredient shall be defined as phosphate, zinc, manganese, or iron products utilized singly or as material ingredient in blended or formulated fertilizing material products. Examples of such base fertilizing material ingredients include, but are not limited to, phosphoric acid, monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, zinc from galvanizer skimmings, zinc from electric arc furnace dust, metallic zinc, refined zinc from the copper pickling process, zinc from circuit board recycling, iron II & III oxide, iron ore deposits, iron from recycling of bailing wire, rust or photographic operations, and manganese oxide.
  2. (2) The guarantee statement shall report in parts per million the maximum total concentration of arsenic, cadmium and lead in the base fertilizing material ingredient.
10. (r) Packaged product labels for commercial fertilizer and agricultural mineral products, with guarantees of available phosphoric acid, iron, manganese, or zinc, which are derived from inorganic sources, shall include either an informational statement of laboratory test results or provide an informational statement providing the maximum levels in parts per million of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel and selenium.
  1. (1) In lieu of a statement on the label, the information may be provided by either of the following statements:
    “Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available by calling 1-800-XXX-XXXX.”
    Or
    “Information regarding the contents and levels of metals in this product is available on the Internet at http://www.regulatory-info-xx.com.” Each registrant shall substitute a unique alphanumeric identifier for “xx”. This statement may be used only if the licensee establishes and maintains the Internet site; there is a clearly visible, direct hyperlink to a government web site; and the Internet site contains no advertising or company-specific information. A government web site internet address on the label, or an address for a web site (such as the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials non-nutritive metals web site) that contains links to other state government non-nutritive metals information, is an acceptable alternative to a web site established and maintained by the licensee. All linked web sites shall contain no advertising or company-specific information.
11. (s) Testing methodology for the informational statement of laboratory test results shall conform to either sample preparation method 3050B or 3051 and conform to analysis methods as described in US EPA Publication SW-846 (Revision 3, December 1996), which is hereby incorporated by reference.
  1. (1) The heavy metal testing results shall be no more than five (5) years old. Fertilizing material manufacturers shall provide results to the Department, when requested.
12. (t) The publication of inaccurate information regarding the contents and levels of metals is a misbranding violation pursuant to Section 14681 of the Food and Agriculture Code.
13. (u) The secretary may accept definitions and official fertilizer terms listed in the most recent edition of the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials official publication.
14. (v) A copy of the heavy metals analysis for the nine metals described in Section 2303 (s) shall be submitted to the secretary for any label that contains a link to the California website for heavy metals (https://apps1.cdfa.ca.gov/fertilizerproducts/).
15. (w) The term “amino acid” or “amino” may be used as part of a product name under the following conditions:
  1. (1) Specific amino acids are represented in the derivation statement and proof of purchase of each specific amino acid is submitted.
  2. (2) Protein hydrolysate is represented in the derivation statement.
    1. (A) Labeling claims are limited to statements within the definition provided in § 2300.1(m).
16. (x) The term “amino acid complex” or “(secondary nutrient or micronutrient) amino acid complex” may be used as part of a product name under the following conditions:
  1. (1) “(Secondary nutrient or micronutrient) amino acid complex” is represented in the derivation statement.
  2. (2) Only complexing agent claims appear on the label.

The label information for fertilizing materials required by Section 14631 of the Food and Agricultural Code, shall include the following:

Note: Authority cited: Sections 407, 14502, 14601 and 14631, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections 14513 and 14631, Food and Agricultural Code.

History

1. Repealer and new section filed 8-2-91; operative 8-2-91 pursuant to Government Code section 11346.2(d) (Register 92, No. 7).

2. New subsections (r)-(v) filed 10-19-2001; operative 1-1-2002 (Register 2001, No. 42).

3. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (t) filed 6-13-2002 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2002, No. 24).

4. Amendment of subsections (r)(1) and (s) filed 11-6-2003; operative 12-6-2003 (Register 2003, No. 45).

5. Amendment of subsection (l) and new subsection (w) filed 2-28-2012; operative 3-29-2012 (Register 2012, No. 9).

6. Amendment of subsections (b)-(b)(2), (e)-(f) and (h)-(l), repealer of subsection (u), subsection relettering, amendment of newly designated subsection (v) and amendment of Note filed 6-22-2017; operative 10-1-2017 (Register 2017, No. 25).

7. Amendment of subsections (i)(1) and (v) filed 4-13-2020; operative 4-13-2020 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2020, No. 16).

8. Amendment of subsections (s) and (s)(1) and new subsections (t)(1) and (w) filed 5-4-2020; operative 7-1-2020 (Register 2020, No. 19).

9. Amendment of subsection (d), new subsection (d)(1), amendment of subsection (i)(3) and new subsection (i)(3)(A) filed 9-29-2022; operative 1-1-2023 (Register 2022, No. 39).

10. Amendment of subsection (d)(1) and new subsections (x)-(y)(2) filed 7-1-2024; operative 10-1-2024 (Register 2024, No. 27).

11. Amendment of section and Note filed 11-14-2025; operative 11-14-2025 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2025, No. 46).