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Plant Amendments, Plant Biostimulants, and Soil Amendments

Plant Amendments

Per 6 V.S.A. § 363, (13) “Plant amendment” means any substance applied to plants or seeds that is intended to improve growth, yield, product quality, reproduction, flavor, or other favorable characteristics of plants, except for fertilizer, soil amendments, agricultural liming materials, animal and vegetable manures, pesticides, plant regulators, and other materials exempted by rule adopted under this chapter.: 

Plant Biostimulants

Per 6 V.S.A. § 363, (14) “Plant biostimulant” means a substance or microorganism that, when applied to seeds, plants, or the rhizosphere, stimulates natural processes to enhance or benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, or crop quality and yield except for fertilizers, soil amendments, plant amendments, or pesticides.

Soil Amendments

Per 6 V.S.A. § 363, (19) “Soil amendment” means a substance or mixture of substance that is intended to improve the physical, chemical, biological, or other characteristics of the soil, except fertilizers, agricultural liming materials, unprocessed animal manures, unprocessed vegetable manures, pesticides, plant biostimulants, and other materials exempted by rule. A compost product from a facility under the jurisdiction of the Agency of Natural Resources’ Solid Waste Management Rules or exceptional quality biosolids shall not be regulated as a soil amendment under this chapter, unless marketed and distributed for the use in the production of an agricultural commodity.

 

Plant Amendment, Plant Biostimulant, and Soil Amendment Fees

Plant amendment, plant biostimulant, and soil amendment manufacturers and dealers are required to register their commercial products with the Agency. The annual registration fee is $85 per product. While tonnage for plant amendment, plant biostimulant, and soil products is required, there is no tonnage fee. 

Plant Amendment, Plant Biostimulant, and Soil Amendment Labels

Per Vermont Statute all plant amendments, plant biostimulants, and soil amendments must be registered with proper labeling. Please review our Plant Amendment, Plant Biostimulant and Soil Amendment Label Registration Guidelines to make sure your label is compliant. 

Plant Amendment, Plant Biostimulant, and Soil Amendment Application and Forms

The application for Registration of Plant Amendments, Plant Biostimulants, and Soil Amendments is used to register commercial plant amendment, plant biostimulant, and soil products. Please use this application to register new products or products with changes made to product name, company name on the label, guarantee or ingredients. Please do not use this application to renew products. In November of each year, we generate a renewal form that lists the products that you need to review. 

Plant Amendment, Plant Biostimulant, and Soil  Amendment Product Registration Application

Plant Amendment, Plant Biostimulant, and Soil Amendment Tonnage Reporting Form

Resources

For general questions concering plant amendment, plant biostimulant and soil amendment products consult Association of American Plant Food Control Officials

For Vermont specific questions consult our Frequently Asked Questions or call 802-828-5050 or email lisa.fantelli@vermont.gov.

Related Rules and Regulations

6 VSA Chapter 28 - Fertilizer & Lime Law 

Act 41