ANALYSIS OF ESB 5866

House Agriculture & Ecology Committee                                                     March 30, 1999

   No longer waives the requirement that metals concentrations be identified for each fertilizer being registered if the components making up the fertilizer are registered.

BACKGROUND:

No person may distribute a commercial fertilizer in this state unless the fertilizer is registered with the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).  The registration fee is $25. Registrations expire on June 30^th annually.  (RCW 15.54.325 and 15.54.330.)  An application for registration must include an identification of the fertilizer components in the fertilizer and a verification that all the components are registered.  If any of the components are not registered, the application must include the concentration of each metal in each component for which standards have been established under the state=s fertilizer law.  (RCW 15.54.325(3)(g).)

Bulk fertilizers do not have to be registered if all of the fertilizer products in them are registered.  However, those who distribute bulk fertilizer must be licensed by the WSDA.  (RCW 15.54.325 and 15.54.275.)

SUMMARY:

A fertilizer registration application for each product being registered must include the concentration of each metal for which standards have been established under the fertilizer laws.  This requirement is no longer waived if the components in the fertilizer product are identified and each of the components is registered.  In eliminating this waiver, the only reference to the registration of components of packaged fertilizer under the fertilizer laws is also eliminated.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 1999.