California Food and Agricultural Code ARTICLE 2 - Definitions

• Section 14511.
  “Agricultural liming materials” are agricultural minerals composed of calcium or magnesium compounds, or both, which are capable of neutralizing soil acidity and which are distributed...
• Section 14512.
  “Agricultural mineral” means any substance with nitrogen (N), available phosphoric acid (P2O5), and soluble potash (K2O), singly or in combination, in amounts less than 5...
• Section 14512.5.
  “Ammonium nitrate” means solid ammonium nitrate that is chiefly the ammonium salt of nitric acid, contains not less than 33 percent of nitrogen, one-half of...
• Section 14513.
  “Auxiliary soil and plant substance” means any chemical or biological substance or mixture of substances or device distributed in this state to be applied to...
• Section 14513.5.
  “Biochar” means materials derived from thermochemical conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment containing at least 60 percent carbon.(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 331, Sec....
• Section 14514.
  “Biotics” means all materials for which claims are made relating to organisms, enzymes, or organism by-products.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14515.
  “Board” means the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14516.
  “Brand” means any term, design, or trademark used in connection with a fertilizing material product.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14517.
  “Bulk material” means fertilizing materials distributed in nonpackaged form or in a container containing more than 50 kilograms or 110 pounds.(Repealed and added by Stats....
• Section 14518.
  “Business location” means any place where fertilizing materials are sold or stored for later sale, except storage of package materials on premises operated exclusively as...
• Section 14519.
  “Captured dilute solutions” means solutions that contain low levels of plant nutrients as a result of equipment rinsing and runoff.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990,...
• Section 14520.
  “Chelates” means compounds, usually organic, which can combine with a metal ion and form a ring structure between a portion of the chelating agent molecule...
• Section 14521.
  “Chelated plant nutrients” means compounds of metallic secondary nutrients and micronutrients with organic chelating agents which have the property of being available under pH conditions...
• Section 14522.
  “Commercial fertilizer” means any substance which contains 5 percent or more of nitrogen (N), available phosphoric acid (P2O5), or soluble potash (K2O), singly or collectively,...
• Section 14523.
  “Common carrier” means a company licensed with the Public Utilities Commission that hauls for hire.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14524.
  “Complex” means bonding which includes both of the following:(a) “Natural organic complexes” means organic by-products of the wood pulp and other industries, such as the lignin...
• Section 14525.
  “Compost” means a biologically stable material derived from the composting process.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14526.
  “Composting” means the biological decomposition of organic matter which inhibits pathogens, viable weed seeds, and odors. “Composting” may be accomplished by mixing and piling in...
• Section 14527.
  “Derivation statement” means the sources of all guaranteed primary nutrients or secondary nutrients, or both, and micronutrients.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec.
• Section 14528.
  “Discontinued manufacturing” means an auxiliary soil and plant substance, packaged agricultural mineral, packaged soil amendment, organic input material, and specialty fertilizer that is no longer...
• Section 14529.
  “Distribute” means to sell, offer, expose for sale, exchange, barter, or otherwise supply products for use in, or shipment within or into, this state.(Repealed and...
• Section 14530.
  “Distributor” means any person who imports or consigns a fertilizing material or who offers for sale, sells, barters, or othewise supplies this product for use...
• Section 14531.
  “Experimental use” means any application of a fertilizing material which is not offered for sale, has no commercial value, and is for the sole purpose...
• Section 14532.
  “Farm use” means that the fertilizing material is used primarily for application to crops produced for commercial value.(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 257, Sec. 2....
• Section 14533.
  “Fertilizing material” means any commercial fertilizer, agricultural mineral, auxiliary soil and plant substance, organic input material, or packaged soil amendment.(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 257,...
• Section 14534.
  “Fish emulsion” means fertilizing material from which the guaranteed nutrients are derived primarily from fish, which contains a minimum of 40 percent total solids from...
• Section 14535.
  “Grade” means the percentage of total nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, and soluble potash stated in the same terms, order, and percentage as the guaranteed analysis.(Repealed...
• Section 14536.
  “Guaranteed analysis” means the minimum percentage of primary or secondary plant nutrients or micronutrients, or both, claimed.(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14537.
  (a) “Gypsum” means calcium sulfate dihydrate, a mineral used in the fertilizer industry as a source of calcium and sulfur which is also known as landplaster.(b) “Phosphatic...
• Section 14538.
  “Hydroponics” means a system in which water soluble primary or secondary plant nutrients or micronutrients, or combination thereof, are placed in intimate contact with the...
• Section 14539.
  “Investigational allowance” means an allowance for variation inherent in the taking, preparation, and analysis of an official sample of fertilizing materials.(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch....
• Section 14540.
  “Label” means the display of all written, printed, or graphic matter on the immediate container of, or a statement, including the guaranteed analysis, accompanying fertilizing...
• Section 14541.
  “Label guarantor” means the manufacturer’s or person’s name appearing on the label of a fertilizing material.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14542.
  “Labeling” means all written, printed, or graphic matter on, accompanying, or used in promoting the sale of any fertilizing material, including advertisements, brochures, posters, and...
• Section 14543.
  “Licensee” means a person who has obtained a license pursuant to this chapter.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14544.
  “Manufacturer” means a person who produces, sells, or distributes a fertilizing material in this state that bears their company name on the label and is...
• Section 14545.
  “Manure” means any substances composed primarily of animal excrement, plant remains, or mixtures of those substances.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14546.
  “Micronutrients” means boron, chlorine, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, or zinc, alone or in any combination.(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14547.
  “Mixed fertilizer” is a commercial fertilizer containing any combination or mixture of fertilizing materials.(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14548.
  “Natural organic fertilizer” means materials derived from either plant or animal products containing one or more nutrients other than carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which are...
• Section 14549.
  “Noncommercial use” means materials used primarily for application to lawns, shrubbery, flowers, trees, or where there is no crop for commercial value or economic purpose,...
• Section 14550.
  “Official sample” means any sample of fertilizing material taken by an agent of the department and designated as “official” by the department.(Added by Stats. 1990,...
• Section 14550.5.
  “Organic input material” means any bulk or packaged commercial fertilizer, agricultural mineral, auxiliary soil and plant substance, specialty fertilizer, or soil amendment, excluding pesticides, that...
• Section 14551.
  “Packaged” means a fertilizing material distributed in packaged form or in a container containing equal to or less than 50 kilograms or 110 pounds.(Repealed and...
• Section 14552.
  “Packaged soil amendment” means any substance distributed for the purpose of promoting plant growth or improving the quality of crops by conditioning soils solely through...
• Section 14553.
  “Percent or percentage” means percentage by weight.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14554.
  “Person” means individual, partnership, association, firm, limited liability company, or corporation who assumes responsibility for the product.(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1010, Sec. 126. Effective...
• Section 14555.
  “Plant” means any business location where fertilizing materials are manufactured, sold, or stored for later sale, except storage of packaged materials on premises operated exclusively...
• Section 14556.
  “Primary plant nutrient” means nitrogen (N), available phosphoric acid (P2O5), or soluble potash (K2O).(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14557.
  “Provisional registration” means that under certain circumstances, a label for renewal on an auxiliary soil and plant substance, packaged agricultural mineral, packaged soil amendment, organic...
• Section 14558.
  “Registrant” means any person who has registered a packaged agricultural mineral, auxiliary soil and plant substance, packaged soil amendment, organic input material, or specialty fertilizer.(Amended...
• Section 14559.
  “Secondary plant nutrient” means calcium, magnesium, or sulfur, alone or in any combination.(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)
• Section 14559.5.
  “Secretary” means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 490, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2006.)
• Section 14560.
  “Sewage sludge” means the solid material resulting from the treatment of waste water of residential or municipal sewage systems.(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec.
• Section 14561.
  “Soil conditioners” means polyelectrolytes, such as complex vinyl and acrylic compounds and certain cellulose and lignin derivatives, which tend to agglomerate soil colloids and produce...
• Section 14562.
  “Soilless growing medium” means a medium of an inorganic substance, such as sand or gravel, or in a soilless organic material such as sphagnum peat...
• Section 14563.
  “Specialty fertilizer” means packaged commercial fertilizer labeled for home gardens, lawns, shrubbery, flowers, and other similar noncommercial uses. These products may contain less than 5...
• Section 14564.
  “Ton” means a net weight of 2,000 pounds avoirdupois.(Repealed and added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 504, Sec. 2.)

Last modified: October 22, 2018