Annapolis, Md.-The Maryland Department of Agriculture expects few, if any, problems implementing HB609, which was signed into law earlier this month by Gov. Martin O’Malley to limit phosphorus fertilizer used on lawns starting in 2011. “We expect that the fertilizer bill will be seamless for the industry because many are already starting to put similar products on the market to meet the demand of some of the more sophisticated consumers,” reported Mary Ellen Setting, assistant secretary for plant industries. “It doesn’t go into effect until April 1, 2011, so industry has time to adapt its products. The law is limited to lawn fertilizer for do-it-yourselfers, not commercial applicators.” Setting noted that Maryland is leading the Chesapeake Bay states in implementing this program, which was agreed upon by the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council in 2006. For that reason, the law has been designated the Chesapeake Bay Phosphorus Reduction Act of 2009. It prohibits after the effective date the sale or distribution by a retail establishment any fertilizer that does not meet the low phosphorus requirements, defined as containing not more than 5 percent of available phosphoric acid. Licensed landscape contractors are not regulated under this law. Starting on the effective date, fertilizer manufacturers whose products are sold in Maryland must report to the department the pounds of phosphorus in their lawn care products sold at retail locations at the end of each year.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain