75-47-5 - Definitions of words and terms. - Mississippi Statutes

§ 75-47-5. Definitions of words and terms.
 

(a)  The term "commercial fertilizer" means any substance containing one or more recognized plant nutrient(s) which is used for its plant nutrient content and which is designed for use or claimed to have value in promoting plant growth, except unmanipulated animal and vegetable manures, marl, lime, limestone, wood ashes and gypsum, and other products exempted by regulation of the commissioner and state chemist. 

(1) A "fertilizer material" is a commercial fertilizer which either: 

A. Contains important quantities of no more than one (1) of the primary plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash), or 

B. Has approximately eighty-five (85%) of its plant nutrient content present in the form of a single chemical compound, or 

C. Is derived from a plant or animal residue or by-product or a natural material deposit which has been processed in such a way that its content of primary plant nutrients has not been materially changed except by purification and concentration. 

(2) A "mixed fertilizer" is a commercial fertilizer containing any combination or mixture of fertilizer materials in which is included at least two (2) primary plant food elements. 

(3) A "specialty fertilizer" is a commercial fertilizer distributed primarily for nonfarm use, such as home gardens, lawns, shrubbery, flowers, golf courses, municipal parks, cemeteries, greenhouses and nurseries. 

(4) A "bulk fertilizer" is a commercial fertilizer distributed in a nonpackaged form. 

(b)  The term "brand" means a term, design, or trademark used in connection with one or several grades of commercial fertilizer. 

(c)  Guaranteed Analysis:        (1) Until the commissioner and state chemist prescribe the alternative form of "guaranteed analysis" in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (2) hereof, the term "guaranteed analysis" shall mean the minimum percentage of plant nutrients claimed in the following order and form:
 



    A. Total Nitrogen (N) .....................................______ percent


    Available Phosphoric Acid (P2O5) ..........................______ percent


    Soluble Potash (K2O) ......................................______ percent

    B. For unacidulated mineral phosphatic materials, total phosphoric acid and degree of fineness must also be guaranteed, for basic slag degree of fineness must also be, and total phosphoric acid may be guaranteed. For bone, tankage and other organic phosphate materials, the total phosphoric acid and/or degree of fineness may also be guaranteed.

    C. Guarantees for plant nutrients other than nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium may be permitted or required by regulation of the commissioner and state chemist. The guarantees for such other nutrients shall be expressed in the form of the element. The sources of such other nutrients (oxides, salt, chelates, etc.) may be required to be stated on the application for registration and may be included as a parenthetical statement on the label. Other beneficial substances or compounds, determinable by laboratory methods, also may be guaranteed by permission of the commissioner and state chemist and with the advice of the director of the agricultural and forestry experimental station. When any plant nutrients or other substances or compounds are guaranteed, they shall be subject to inspection and analysis in accord with the methods and regulations prescribed by the state chemist.

    D. Potential basicity or acidity expressed in terms of calcium carbonate equivalent in multiples of fifty pounds per ton, when required by regulation.

   (2) When the commissioner and state chemist find, after public hearing following due notice, that the requirement for expressing the guaranteed analysis of phosphorus and potassium in elemental form would not impose an economic hardship on distributors and users of fertilizer by reason of conflicting labeling requirements among the states, they may require by regulation thereafter that the "guaranteed analysis" shall be in the following form:

    Total Nitrogen (N) ........................................______ percent

    Available Phosphorus (P) ..................................______ percent

    Soluble potassium (K) .....................................______ percent

Provided, however, that the effective date of said regulation shall be not less than six (6) months following the issuance thereof, and provided, further, that for a period two (2) years following the effective date of said regulation the equivalent of phosphorus and potassium may also be shown in the form of phosphoric acid and potash; provided, however, that after the effective date of a regulation issued under the provisions of this section, requiring that phosphorus and potassium be shown in the elemental form, the guaranteed analysis for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium shall constitute the grade. 

(d)  The term "grade" means the percentage of total nitrogen, available phosphorus or phosphoric acid, and soluble potassium or soluble potash stated in whole numbers in the same terms, order and percentages as in the guaranteed analysis. Provided, however, that fertilizer materials, bone meal, manures, and similar raw materials may be guaranteed in fractional units. 

(e)  The term "official sample" means any sample of commercial fertilizer taken by the commissioner or his agent and designated as "official" by the state chemist. 

(f)  The term "ton" means a net weight of two thousand (2,000) pounds avoirdupois. 

(g)  The term "percent" or "percentage" means the percentage by weight. 

(h)  The term "person" includes individual, partnership, association, firm and corporation. 

(i)  The term "distributor" means any person who imports, consigns, manufactures, produces, compounds, mixes, or blends commercial fertilizer, or who offers for sale, sells, barters or otherwise supplies commercial fertilizer in this state. 

(j)  The term "registrant" or "guarantor" means the person who manufactures, blends, sells or offers fertilizer for sale under his name or brand, and who is registered with the Department of Agriculture and Commerce under the provisions of this chapter or rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter. 

(k)  The term "label" means the display of all written, printed or graphic matter upon the immediate container or statement accompanying a commercial fertilizer. 

(l)  The term "labeling" means all written, printed or graphic matter, upon or accompanying any commercial fertilizer, or advertisements, brochures, posters, television and radio announcements used in promoting the sale of such commercial fertilizers. 

(m)  The term "unit" means one percent (1%) of the nutrient referred to in a ton of fertilizer. 
 

Sources: Codes, 1942, § 4450-03; Laws,  1970, ch. 263, § 3; Laws,  1997, ch. 448, § 1, eff from and after July 1, 1997.