Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research		 BILL
ANALYSIS
Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

HB 2467

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Regulating fertilizers.

Sponsors: Representatives Warnick, Blake, Grant, Kretz, Newhouse and VanDeWege; by request of Department of Agriculture.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Makes changes to the statutory regulation fertilizer distribution registration.

Hearing Date: 1/16/08

Staff: Colleen Kerr (786-7168).

Background:

Registration
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) requires commercial fertilizer to be registered by the producer, importer, or packager before distribution. Bulk fertilizer does not require registration if all the commercial fertilizer products contained in the final product are already registered. Applications for registration are $50 and applicants are registered for two-year periods.   

Labeling Requirements
Commercial fertilizer distributed in Washington must be clearly labeled. Bulk commercial fertilizer must be distributed with a written or printed statement and be supplied to the purchaser at the time of delivery.

Registrant Reporting and Fees
Every registrant or licensee who distributes commercial fertilizer must file an semiannual report to the WSDA stating the number of net tons of each commercial fertilizer distributed in Washington. Individuals responsible for payment of inspection fees for commercial fertilizer distributed in Washington must include the fees with the report. For registrants or licensees that distribute less than eighty-three tons of commercial fertilizer or less than one hundred sixty seven tons of commercial lime or an equivalent combination of the two, they must pay the minimum fee of $25.

WSDA Reports
The WSDA also maintains a fertilizer database of registration information that is open to the public. WSDA, in consultation with the Department of Ecology and the Department of Health, also reports biennially to the Legislature on the levels of nonnutritive substances in fertilizers.

Summary of Bill:

The following changes are made to existing statutory provisions:
   
Registration
The registration requirement for customer-formula fertilizers is eliminated if all the    components of the fertilizer are registered.

Labeling
Clarifies requirements for the labeling of packaged, bulk, and customer-formula fertilizers.
      
Registrant Reporting and Fees
Reinstates in statute the due dates for fertilizer distribution reports. Clarifies the statutes regarding late fees.

Makes technical changes and removes outdated language in the four amended sections of the statute.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.