Assembly Bill 93 proposes significant changes to the regulation of fertilizers and soil or plant additives derived from manure, specifically those produced through composting or vermicomposting. The bill allows for the distribution of fertilizers with a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium of less than 24 percent, which is a departure from the current requirement that mandates a minimum of 24 percent. Additionally, it exempts fertilizers made from composted manure from needing to meet minimum nutrient content requirements. The bill also permits representations about nutrient content on labels or invoices to be substantiated by typical analyses rather than guaranteed analyses, thereby easing the regulatory burden on producers.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the requirements for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) regarding the efficacy of soil or plant additives. It prohibits DATCP from requiring controlled experimental field tests to substantiate the effectiveness of compost-based additives, allowing for typical analyses to serve as sufficient evidence. The bill introduces new definitions for terms such as "beneficial substance" and "vermicompost," and it renumbers and amends existing statutes to align with these changes. Overall, Assembly Bill 93 aims to facilitate the distribution and labeling of compost-based fertilizers and additives while reducing regulatory constraints on producers.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 94.64(3m)(a)(intro.), 94.64, 94.64(3m)(a)1, 94.64(9)(c), 94.65(4)(a)(intro.), 94.65, 94.65(4)(b)