Florida Administrative Code › 5 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES › 5E - Division of Agricultural Environmental Services › Chapter 5E-1 - FERTILIZER › Section 5E-1.026 - Adulteration Levels for Metals in Fertilizers; Certificate of Analysis

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
Adulteration levels for metals in fertilizers.
Fertilizers that contain guaranteed amounts of phosphates
				  and/or micro nutrients are adulterated when they contain metals in amounts
				  greater than the levels of metals established by the following
				  table1:
Metals
ppm per 1% P2O5
ppm per 1% Micro nutrients2
1. Arsenic
13
112
2. Cadmium
10
83
3. Cobalt
3, 100
23, 0003
4. Lead
61
463
5. Mercury
1
6
6. Molybdenum
42
3003
7. Nickel
250
1, 900
8. Selenium
26
1803
9. Zinc
420
2, 9003
To use the Table:
Multiply the percent guaranteed
				  P2O5 or sum of the guaranteed
				  percentages of all micro nutrients (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 micro nutrients utilized as a multiplier
				  shall be 1. If a product contains both
				  P2O5 and micro nutrients multiply
				  the guaranteed percent P2O5 by
				  the value in the appropriate column and multiply the sum of the guaranteed
				  percentages of the micro nutrients 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 . 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), 266.20(a) and 268.40(i), dated May 14, 2002.
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 Micro nutrients (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
				  micro nutrients are iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum and boron. In
				  addition, cobalt and selenium can also be considered micro nutrients.
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.
New 7-29-02, Amended
					 2-25-03.