Every state in the country, plus Puerto Rico, has its own fertilizer regulatory program, usually administered by the state department of agriculture. Although regulated primarily at the state level, several federal laws also pertain to the manufacturing, distribution and use of fertilizers.
Some laws are concerned with industry reports such as the community right to know acts.
Others outline emission standards for air and water quality. The industry must also comply with other laws including the resource conservation and recovery acts, and transportation and storage guidelines. State regulation is concerned with consumer protection, labeling, the protection of human health and the environment, and the proper handling and application of fertilizers. Fertilizers are regulated at the state level because soil conditions vary dramatically from state to state across the country. For example, the rocky, thin soils of New England are vastly different from the deep, rich black soils of the Midwest Corn Belt.