Guide to the Canadian Federal Regulatory Requirements for Fertilizers and Supplements

Supporting Section A - Definitions

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Actual

The amount of an active or beneficial ingredient in a product, within specified tolerances.

Available

Available by the methods of analysis referred to in Appendix B of this Guide.

Beneficial plant element

The mineral elements (Sodium (Na), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Silicon (Si) and Vanadium (V)) that are thought to be beneficial to the growth of some, but not all, plants. Other than Na for compost, claims that a product contains these elements, or guarantees for these elements, are considered supplement claims requiring the registration of the product.

Biotechnology*

The application of science and engineering to the direct or indirect use of living organisms or parts or products of living organisms in their natural or modified forms.

Bulk (fertilizer/supplement)

A fertilizer/supplement that is not prepackaged (other than customer formula).

Claim

Any statement, picture, symbol, logo, and/or information, including the guaranteed analysis, that is present on the label and that identifies or implies a quality, use, benefit or performance of a product.

Customer-formula fertilizer*

A fertilizer prepared in accordance with a written formula that sets forth the name, amount and analysis of each ingredient, the fertilizer grade of the total mixture and the signature of the person for whose use for fertilizing purposes it has been prepared.

Environment*

The components of the Earth which includes: a) air, land and water; b) all layers of the atmosphere; c) all organic and inorganic matter and living organisms; and d) the interacting natural systems that include components referred to in a) to c).

Extract

Any substance or active ingredient that was removed (either through active or passive processes) from a source or parent material. The process may involve diffusion, osmosis, solvent extraction, as well as other methods.

Farm fertilizer*

Includes any fertilizer other than a specialty fertilizer.

Fertilizer-pesticide*

Includes any fertilizer that contains a pesticide.

Further treatment

Subjecting a product ingredient(s) to chemical or physical processes that change the chemical or physical properties of the product ingredient(s). Blending with other products does not constitute further treatment.

Grade*

The percentage content of total nitrogen, available phosphoric acid and soluble potash stated in that sequence on the label of a fertilizer.

Guaranteed analysis*

The section on a fertilizer or supplement label, as outlined in section 15 of the Fertilizers Regulations, containing guarantees for active ingredients based on analysis conducted using one of the methods listed in Supporting Section B of this Guide, or a method approved by the Director of the Crop Inputs Division.

Household Plants

Non-food plants grown in containers, either indoors or outdoors, by home owners.

Label*

Any legend, word mark, symbol or design applied or attached to, included in, belonging to or accompanying any fertilizer, supplement or package.

Lesser plant nutrient*

Any plant nutrient other than nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.

Lot number

Any combination of letters and/or numbers by which a fertilizer or supplement can be identified and traced. A lot number should be assigned to unique batches of product derived from a single production run, mining date/location, delivery date, packaging date, static pile, wind row, etc. Each lot or batch should be assigned on the belief that all product in the lot or batch is of similar chemical, biological, and physical characteristics.

Major plant nutrient*

Includes nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), or potassium (K).

Mixed fertilizer*

Includes all fertilizers other than fertilizers consisting of a single material or one chemical compound.

Most Probable Number (MPN)

MPN is the statistical method of estimating the microbial load or cell density in complex samples (soil or water), taking into consideration the most probable number of micro-organisms in a known volume or mass of the samples.

Natural product/ingredient

Products/ingredients that contain only materials that may be found in nature, including organic ingredients, and those directly mined from mineral deposits. Natural products and ingredients can only be subjected to physical processes such as crushing and drying.

Natural condition

Products that have not been processed, bagged, or packaged.

Nitrogen*

As defined in the Fertilizers Regulations means elemental nitrogen (N).

Novel supplement*

A supplement that is not registered and not exempt from registration, or a supplement that is derived through biotechnology and has a novel trait.

Novel trait*

In respect of a supplement derived through biotechnology, means a characteristic of the supplement that has been intentionally selected, created or introduced into a distinct, stable population [of supplements] of the same species through a specific genetic change, and based on valid scientific rationale, is not substantially equivalent, in terms of its specific use and safety both for the environment and for human health, to any characteristic of a similar supplement that is in use as a supplement in Canada and is considered safe for use as a supplement in Canada.

Organic ingredient

An ingredient that consists solely of material derived from living organisms (animal, bacteria, fungus, algae, and/or plant in origin), that has not been subject to treatment with chemicals.

Organic product

A product derived solely from organic matter (organic matter must be guaranteed).

Organic matter*

The substance remaining after removal of the moisture and total ash fractions from partially humified matter of animal or vegetable origin.

Package*

Includes a sack, bag, barrel, case or any other container in which fertilizers or supplements are placed or packed.

Pesticide

A pest control product as defined in the Pest Control Products Act "(a) a product, an organism or a substance, including a product, an organism or a substance derived through biotechnology, that consists of its active ingredient, formulants and contaminants, and that is manufactured, represented, distributed or used as a means for directly or indirectly controlling, destroying, attracting or repelling a pest or for mitigating or preventing its injurious, noxious or troublesome effects; (b) an active ingredient that is used to manufacture anything described in paragraph (a); or (c) any other thing that is prescribed to be a pest control product."

Phosphoric acid*

As defined in the Fertilizers Regulations means phosphorous pentoxide (P₂O₅).

Phosphate*

As defined in the Fertilizers Regulations means phosphorous pentoxide (P₂O₅).

Plant

A multicellular, eukaryotic organism of the kingdom Plantae, characteristically capable of photosynthesis, having cellulose cell walls and lacking the power of locomotion. This definition excludes algae and fungi.

Plant nutrient

An element which is absorbed by plants and is necessary for completion of the normal life cycle. These include carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), boron (B), chloride (Cl), and molybdenum (Mo).

Potash*

As defined in the Fertilizers Regulations means potassium oxide (K₂O).

Prohibited material*

Anything that is, or that contains any, protein that originated from a mammal, other than a porcine or equine; milk or products of milk; gelatin derived exclusively from hides or skins or products of gelatin derived exclusively from hides or skins; blood or products of blood; or rendered fats, derived from ruminants, that contain no more than 0.15% insoluble impurities or their products.

Registrant*

A person who has been issued a certificate of registration under these Regulations.

Release*

Any discharge or emission of a supplement into the environment or exposure of a supplement to the environment.

Ruminant*

An animal of the suborder Ruminatiae (e.g., cattle, goats, sheep, etc.) and includes an animal of the family Camelidae.

Shipping bill*

A bill accompanying the shipment of a fertilizer or supplement.

Single ingredient fertilizer

Includes all fertilizers that consist of one material or chemical compound.

Soluble

Soluble by the methods of analysis referred to in Supporting Section B of this Guide.

Specialty fertilizer*

A fertilizer recommended for use only on household plants, urban gardens, lawns or golf courses or in nurseries or greenhouses, or that contains no major plant nutrients and contains lesser plant nutrients other than calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S).

Specified risk material (SRM)*

The skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of cattle aged 30 months or older, and the distal ileum of cattle of all ages.

Supplement*

Any substance or mixture of substances, other than a fertilizer, that is manufactured, sold or represented for use in the improvement of the physical condition of soils or to aid plant growth or crop yields.

* These terms are defined in, or by, the Fertilizers Act or Fertilizers Regulations.

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