Commissioner Adam H. Putnam

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Fertilizer Section

Florida Laws | FAQ | Forms | Related Links | Contact

The Fertilizer Section is charged with the enforcement and administration of Florida's Commercial Fertilizer Law, Chapter 576, F.S., and Chapter 5E-1, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).

The Fertilizer Law requires fertilizer companies who plan to market fertilizer in Florida to be licensed with the Department and show proof of a Surety Bond or Certificate of Deposit in the amount of $1,000. All registered licensees pay an inspection fee of $1.00 per ton for mixed fertilizer and fertilizer materials, including an additional $.50 per ton if the fertilizer contains nitrogen or phosphate. The inspection fee for liming materials and untreated phosphatic materials is $.30 per ton.

The Fertilizer Section is also responsible for licensing fertilizer companies and registration of specialty brand fertilizers sold in packages of 49 pounds or less and distributed for home and garden use. This Section is also responsible for the collection of all registration and license fees, tracking and recording the consumption of fertilizers sold in Florida, the collection of inspection and nitrogen fees, assessing and monitoring penalties against fertilizer licensees for distributing deficient plant food, and assessing penalties for the production of short weight fertilizers.

Florida Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Does one need a Fertilizer License in order to sell fertilizer in the State of Florida?
    Yes. The name that appears on the fertilizer label as guarantor must complete an Application For License, Fertilizer Form DACS-13222, accompanied with a license fee of $200, which expires on June 30 of each year. Make your check or money order payable to: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 6710, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6710.

  2. Is one required to post a $1,000 Surety Bond or Certificate of Deposit (CD) with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services?
    Yes. All applicants applying for a Fertilizer License have an option to purchase a surety bond or certificate of deposit.

    Option I: The surety bond will be in the amount of $1,000 and obtained from your local insurance agent using the Department's Fertilizer Dealer's Bond Form DACS-13229. The original bond will be forwarded to: Bureau of Compliance Monitoring, Fertilizer Section, 3125 Conner Boulevard, Bldg.#8, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650.

    Option II: The Certificate of Deposit will be obtained from a recognized financial institution doing business in the United States. The Certificate will be in the name of the fertilizer company appearing on the fertilizer label as guarantor and the Florida Department of Agriculture. The Assignment of Certificate of Deposit, Form DACS-13201, will be completed by the bank representative and the applicant. The Certificate of Deposit will be a continuous CD, retained by the applicant for security purposes. The original Assignment of Certificate of Deposit and a copy of the Certificate of Deposit will be mailed to: Bureau of Compliance Monitoring, Fertilizer Section, 3125 Conner Boulevard, Bldg.#8, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650.


  3. Is one required to register fertilizer offered for sale and sold in the State of Florida?
    Yes. "Specialty Fertilizer" requires registration. Specialty Fertilizer is fertilizer packaged in containers of 49 pounds or less AND distributed for home and garden use. Complete the Application For Specialty Fertilizer Registration Cover Page, Application For Specialty Fertilizer List of Requested Registrations/Part II, Fertilizer Form DACS-13220, and the Application For Registration of Specialty Fertilizer, Fertilizer Form DACS-13203. The registration fee is $200 for each grade of Specialty Fertilizer. Make your check or money order payable to: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 6710, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6710.

  4. Where can one find information in reference to Florida's labeling requirements?
    The Florida Commercial Fertilizer Law, Chapter 576, F.S., provides specific rules and regulations that will provide guidance to label your fertilizer products. See Fertilizer Rule 5E-1.003, F.A.C., Label Requirements For All Fertilizer Products.

  5. Must one complete the Application To Report Tonnage And To Pay Inspection Fee For Fertilizer And Other Materials?
    Yes. Fertilizer Form DACS-13241 will be completed by the applicant and submitted to the Department at the same time the applicant applies for a Fertilizer License to do business in this State. This form should be mailed to: Bureau of Compliance Monitoring, Fertilizer Section, 3125 Conner Boulevard, Bldg. #8, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650.

  6. Is one required to pay inspection fees on fertilizers sold in the State of Florida?
    Yes. Every licensee will pay to the Department an inspection fee in the amount of $1.00 per ton for fertilizer sold in the State, including an additional $.50 per ton if the fertilizer contains nitrogen or phosphate. The inspection fee for raw ground phosphate rock, soft phosphate, colloidal phosphate, phosphatic clays and all other untreated phosphatic materials, gypsum, hydrated lime, limestone, and dolomite, when sold or used for agricultural purposes, will be $.30 per ton.

  7. Is one required to submit a tonnage form accompanied with the inspection fee to the Department of Agriculture?
    Yes. Tonnage reports of sales and payment of inspection fees will be made monthly using the Department's Fertilizer Form DACS-13239. This form, accompanied with your payment, must be submitted on or before the fifteenth day of the month succeeding the month covered by the reports. Make your check or money order payable to: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 6710, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6710.

  8. Is one required to submit a statistical report of fertilizer tonnage sold in the State of Florida to the Department of Agriculture?
    Yes. This report covers all fertilizer movements other than wholesale. Licensees shipping or delivering fertilizers in other than wholesale movements in lots of one or more tons will notify the Department thereof. Notification will consist of a monthly summary using Fertilizer Form DACS-13238. This form must be submitted on or before the 15th of the month following the reporting period. See Rule 5E-1.012, F.A.C., for guidance. This form should be mailed to: Bureau of Compliance Monitoring, Fertilizer Section, 3125 Conner Boulevard, Bldg. #8, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650.

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Forms

Please follow the instructions provided below when printing and completing the forms listed.

  1. Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print forms. Skip this step if Adobe Reader is already installed on your pc.
  2. Print forms on white 8 1/2" x 11" paper.
  3. Type or print the entire form in blue or black ink.
  4. Make check(s) payable to: FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES.
  5. Mail check(s) to: FDACS-FERTILIZER, Post Office Box 6710, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6710.
  6. Please send 2 copies of the application.
  7. Submit draft fertilizer labels with registration documents.

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Related Links

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Contact

If you have any questions regarding fertilizer licensing, registration or labeling, please contact:
William Cox
E-mail William.Cox@freshfromflorida.com
3125 Conner Boulevard, Building 8
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
Phone: (850) 617-7860
Fax: (850) 617-7894

If you have any questions about the Fertilizer Laboratory, please contact:
Teresa Rygiel
E-mail Teresa.Rygiel@freshfromflorida.com
3125 Conner Boulevard, Building 7
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
Phone: (850) 617-7836
Fax: (850) 617-7843

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