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Plant Amendment, Plant Biostimulant, and Soil Amendment FAQ

  1. What is the definition of Plant Amendment?
  2. What is the definition of Plant Biostimulant? 
  3. What is the definition of Soil Amendment? 
  4. Do I need a license to sell my plant amendment, plant biostimulant and/or soil amendment products in the State of Vermont?
  5. I’m not sure my product needs to be registered, who should I contact?
  6. How do I register my product? Can I do so online?
  7. If I only sell my product online, do I need to register it?
  8. What needs to be on the label? 
  9. Where do I sent the labels? 
  10. My product is registered in another state, will you automatically accept my label?
  11. My product is packaged in multiple sizes, do I need to register each size?
  12. What is the registration fee?
  13. Do I need to pay tonnage? 
  14. When is the tonnage report due? 
  15. I submitted my product for registration, but haven’t heard anything, what should I do?
  16. I no longer want to sell my product(s), do I need to do anything?
  17. Do I need to register my product every year?
  18. I never received a renewal form, what should I do?
  19. I have revised my labels; do I need to do anything?
  20. If I already register my product as a pesticide, do I need to register it as a plant amendment, plant biostimulant and/or soil amendment?

1)“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.

 2) “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.

 3) “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.

 4) A “license” is not required to sell/distribute  plant amendment, plant biostimulant and/or soil amendment products in Vermont. However, you are required to register each of the products you wish to sell/distribute in Vermont.

 5) For any questions concerning whether a product needs to be registered, please contact lisa.fantelli@vermont.gov

 6) If you have an existing account, you can register your product online at any time. If this is a new account, you will need to submit a paper application. 

 7) You are required to register your product(s) whether they are sold online or in retail locations.

 8) Net weight or volume, brand name, purpose of product, directions for application, guaranteed analysis ,name and address of the registrant.

 9) New labels with questions and revised labels should be sent to Lisa.Fantelli@vermont.gov.

 10) Not necessarily. It will be accepted if it meets all Vermont requirements.

 11) While we require registration of each grade or formulation of a product, we do not require registration for each size of package.

 12) The registration fee is $85 per product annually. 

 13) There is not a tonnage fee for plant amendment, plant biostimulant and soil amendment products. However, tonnage reporting is required.

 14) Tonnage is due January 15th for the previous year.

 15) Depending on the time of year, it can take up to 4-6 weeks to receive a certificate of registration. If we have a question regarding your label, you will receive a phone call from us. If you have recently moved or changed your mailing address, please contact Licensing and Registration at 802-828-2436.

 16) Please contact agr.licensing@vermont.gov or submit a letter stating that you no longer wish to register your product.

 17) Your product(s) needs to be registered each year that it is offered for sale. The registration year for plant amendment, plant biostimulant and soil amendment products is January 1st through December 31st.

 18) If you registered a product(s) last year and have not received a renewal form by November 30th, please contact Licensing and Registration at agr.licensing@vermont.gov or 802-828-2436.

 19) If there have been slight revisions to your labels, such as in graphics or font, you do not need to register your product as a new product. If there have been significant changes, such as changes in the guaranteed analysis, source of ingredients etc.,  you will need to register your product as a new product. If you have questions about whether a label is considered new, send your questions to lisa.fantelli@vermont.gov.

 20) If your product is registered as a pesticide and makes plant amendment, plant biostimulant and/or soil amendment  claims, it needs to be  registered as a plant amendment, plant biostimulant and as well.