Code of Maine Rules › 01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY › 001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL › Chapter 350 - REGULATIONS UNDER THE MAINE COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER LAW › Section 001-350-8 - ADULTERATED MATERIALS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
1. Fertilizers
				containing guaranteed amounts of phosphates and/or micronutrients shall be
				deemed to be 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% Micronutrients3
1. Arsenic
13
112
2. Cadmium
10
83
3. Cobalt
136
2,2284
4. Lead
61
463
5. Mercury
1
6
6. Molybdenum
42
3004
7. Nickel
250
1,900
8. Selenium
26
180
9. Zinc
420
2,9004
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.
1.
				Biosolids, and all compost products4, shall be
				deemed to 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 or 06 - 096 CMR 419. Dried biosolids and manure, as well as
				manipulated manure products either separately or in combination, 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 or 06 - 096 CMR 419. Hazardous waste derived fertilizers (as defined by
				EPA) shall be deemed to 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, 266 and 268.
Footnotes:
1 Woltering, Daniel M. 2004.
				  Health Risk Assessment for Metals in Inorganic Fertilizers: Development and Use
				  in Risk Management. In Environmental Impact of Fertilizer on Soil and Water.
				  Hall, William L. Jr. and Wayne P. Robarge, Editors. American Chemical Society
				  Symposium Series No. 872. p124-147.
2 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.
3 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 defined by AAPFCO's Official Fertilizer Term, T-9.
4 Only applies when not
				  guaranteed.
5 Includes all compost products
				  separately or in combination with biosolids, manure or manipulated manure, even
				  those registered as fertilizers (making nutrient claims).(Official 2003)