Soil Conditioner Notice
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Soil Conditioner Registration of New & Renewed Products Notice
Lab reports and labels are required for all new & renewed Soil Conditioner registrations. For renewals this is done on an annual basis.
IMPORTANT: Do not mail applications or renewal forms and fees until the lab reports & labels have been approved by the Maryland State Chemist. We will notify you upon approval.
Samples to be analyzed must be tested on an as-is basis.
Soil Conditioner Products
The lab reports shall consist of the following analysis:
- Nutrients: N-P-K
- Metals: EPA 503 method or comparable method for 9 toxic metals:
- Arsenic
- Cadmium
- Copper
- Lead
- Mercury
- Molybdenum
- Nickel
- Selenium
- Zinc
- Toxic Organics: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, (P.A.H.)
- The PAH test must be the Non-Alkylated test
- The testing limit should be as low as possible
- The Method to be used is SWA 846
- Sixteen or more chemical compounds must be listed
Submission Timeline and Compliance
- Eight-week timeline for non-compliant reports: Incomplete, outdated, or otherwise non-compliant laboratory reports will not be accepted.
- Current and complete reports must be submitted within eight (8) weeks of notification by MDA of the non-compliant submittal.
- For renewals, laboratory reports must be obtained annually to represent the registration season in which the product will be sold or distributed.
Submission and Communication Requirements
- Submit compliant documentation to [email protected].
- The company name must be included in the subject line of the email.
Laboratory Requirements
- Laboratory testing must be performed by a laboratory outside of the registrant’s internal laboratory.
- The following laboratories currently conduct the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) test:
- Waypoint Analytical (Memphis location)
- Mid-Atlantic Laboratories
- ALS Environmental
- Microbac
- Pace Analytical
- Laboratory reports must pertain to the most current lot or batch of the product.
Label Requirements
- Labels must be submitted in a high-resolution PDF format.
- The PDF must remain completely legible when enlarged.
- Scanned labels will not be accepted.
- A printer’s proof is preferred.
The lab reports shall consist of the following analysis:
- Nutrients: N-P-K
- Metals: EPA 503 method or comparable method for 9 toxic metals:
- Arsenic
- Cadmium
- Copper
- Lead
- Mercury
- Molybdenum
- Nickel
- Selenium
- Zinc
- Toxic Organics: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, (P.A.H.)
- The PAH test must be the Non-Alkylated test
- The testing limit should be at or below 10 parts per billion
- The Method to be used is SWA 846
- Sixteen or more chemical compounds must be listed
Laboratory Testing Requirements
- Laboratories conducting the P.A.H. test also have the ability to test for:
- Metals
- N-P-K
- Some laboratories may be able to test PAH at or below 10 parts per billion (ppb).
- At this time, a list of laboratories capable of performing the required testing is not available.
- The registrant is responsible for locating a qualified laboratory.
- Testing must be performed by a laboratory outside of the registrant's internal laboratory.
Required Laboratory Reports
- Three laboratory reports are required for each product.
- All reports must:
- Represent the finished product, not individual ingredients.
- Pertain to the most current lot or batch.
- Contain the product name as it appears on the label.
- Show the product name as originally printed or typed on the laboratory report.
- The following will not be accepted:
- Old laboratory reports.
- Reports for ingredients instead of the finished product.
- Reports with product names handwritten onto them.
- Reports with product names electronically added after the report was created.
- Partial laboratory results.
Renewal and Registration Timing
- For renewals, laboratory reports must be obtained annually.
- Reports must represent the registration season in which the product will be sold or distributed.
- All required laboratory reports and the current label must be submitted within six weeks of the analysis date shown on the laboratory report.
Submission Requirements
- Submit the following together in one email for each product:
- All three laboratory reports.
- Current product label.
- Do not submit partial laboratory results.
- Email submissions to: [email protected]
- The company name must be included in the email subject line.
Product Label Requirements
- The current label must be submitted with the laboratory reports.
- Label format must be:
- High-resolution PDF
- Completely legible when enlarged.
- Scanned labels will not be accepted.
- The printer's proof is preferred.
Composted Materials
- Composted materials require additional laboratory reports.
- This applies to:
- Composted ingredients
- Composted finished products
- Additional requirements are governed by the Maryland Compost Regulations.
- For composted materials, the registrant must contact Phil Davidson for further guidance.