Adulteration levels for metals in fertilizers.

Fertilizers that contain guaranteed amounts of phosphates and/or micronutrients are adulterated when they contain metals in amounts greater than the levels of metals established by the following table1:

To use the Table:

Multiply the percent guaranteed P2O5 or sum of the guaranteed percentages of all micronutrients (Iron, Manganese, Zinc, etc.) in each product by the value in the appropriate column in the Table to obtain the maximum allowable concentration (ppm) of these metals. The minimum value for P2O5 utilized as a multiplier shall be 6.0. The minimum value for micronutrients utilized as a multiplier shall be 1. If a product contains both P2O5 and micronutrients multiply the guaranteed percent P2O5 by the value in the appropriate column and multiply the sum of the guaranteed percentages of the micronutrients by the value in the appropriate column. Utilize the higher of the two resulting values as the maximum allowable concentrations.

Biosolids, and all compost products4, shall be adulterated when they exceed the levels of metals permitted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR Part 503 (2025), which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference and available online at HYPERLINK "https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18966"https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18966 or at 3125 Conner Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1650. Dried biosolids and manure, as well as manipulated manure products not supplemented with chemical fertilizers shall also be deemed adulterated when they exceed the levels of metal permitted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR Part 503. Hazardous waste derived fertilizers (as defined by EPA) shall be adulterated when they exceed the levels of metals permitted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR Parts 261.2(c) (2024), which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference and available online at HYPERLINK "https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18967"https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18967 or at 3125 Conner Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650, 266.20(d) (2023), which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference and available online at HYPERLINK "https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18968"https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18968 or at 3125 Conner Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650 and 268.40 (2023), which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference and available online at HYPERLINK "https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18969"https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18969 or at 3125 Conner Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650.

Footnotes:

1 These guidelines are not intended to be used to evaluate horticultural growing media claiming nutrients but may be applied to the sources of the nutrients added to the growing media.

2 Micronutrients (also called minor elements) are essential for both plant growth and development and are added to certain fertilizers to improve crop production and/or quality. These micronutrients are iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum and boron. In addition, cobalt and selenium can also be considered micronutrients.

3 Only applies when not guaranteed.

4 Includes all compost products that are not supplemented with chemical fertilizers, even those registered as fertilizers (making nutrient claims).

Rulemaking Authority 576.181 FS. Law Implemented 576.181 FS. History–New 7-29-02, Amended 2-25-03, 1-27-26.