PDF (102 kb)
All fertilizers (plant nutrients) and supplements (substance other than nutrients that improve plant growth and crop yield) when sold or imported into Canada are regulated under the federal Fertilizers Act and Regulations. Pursuant to these Regulations, the products must be safe with respect to plant, animal, human health and the environment, efficacious for the intended purpose, and properly labelled as to avoid misrepresentation in the marketplace and fraud.
Some fertilizers and most supplements are subject to registration and mandatory pre-market assessment by the Fertilizer Program of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which is responsible for administering the Fertilizers Act and Regulations. As part of product assessment, CFIA officials evaluate the safety and efficacy information/data and review the label to verify product compliance with the prescribed standards. Please note that all ingredients in the product (both active and inert) as well the potential contaminants and degradation products are considered when reviewing product safety.
All regulated products (those requiring registration and those exempt from registration) in the Canadian marketplace must meet all the prescribed standards. Product compliance is verified by the CFIA area staff through inspections, product sampling and analysis, and marketplace label verification. Non-compliant products are subject to enforcement actions which may include product detention, and in cases of severe and/or repeated non-compliance, prosecution.
Determining the regulatory categorization of a product under the Fertilizers Act and Regulations largely depends on label claims (i.e. how the product is represented in the marketplace). This includes nutrient guarantees and/or product grades. Micronutrient fertilizers require registration under the Fertilizers Act. Although the addition of small amounts of N, P, or K to a micronutrient fertilizer may change the categorization of the product under the Fertilizers Regulations, it does not necessarily exempt the product from registration.
The Fertilizers Regulations define a "farm fertilizer" as any fertilizer other than a specialty fertilizer, and a "a specialty fertilizer" as a fertilizer recommended for use only on household plants, urban gardens, lawns or golf courses or in nurseries or greenhouses.
Section 10 of the Fertilizers Regulations states:
- "10. The major plant nutrients present in every mixed fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorous, or potassium shall be not less than 24% of the total content of the fertilizer except if the mixed fertilizer is
- a customer-formula fertilizer;
- a specialty fertilizer;
- a fertilizer, the ingredients of which contain
- at least 50% that is of animal or vegetable origin and that supplies 25% of the nitrogen in the mixture in a water-insoluble form, and
- at least 18% that is of major plant nutrients combined; or
- a product registered under the Act."
It is important to note that Section 10 of the Regulations is ONLY applicable to "mixed fertilizers".
Therefore, based on the above, there are two categories of fertilizers that require registration as Low Analysis Farm Fertilizers:
- Any single ingredient farm fertilizer that is NOT found in Schedule II of the Regulations (e.g. digestates, potassium phosphite, etc.)
- Any mixed fertilizer that has a combined NPK grade less than 24% (or 18% for animal/plant origin) and is not for specialty use
If your product qualifies as a Low Analysis Farm Fertilizer, registration must be obtained before the product can be legally sold in the Canadian marketplace. To assist in identifying the specific registration requirements for your product, we encourage you to submit for written inquiry to the Crop Inputs Division of the CFIA, to the attention of the Client Services Administrator. The items required for an inquiry can be found in the submission checklist, available online.
The Inquiry service is provided by the Crop Inputs Division free of charge to assist companies in understanding the regulatory requirements, and give clearer guidance on the type of information/data that will be required to support product registration. An evaluator will review the submitted information and provide a comprehensive list of requirements within 30 working days of receipt of the Inquiry.
Please be advised that the sale and importation of non-compliant fertilizer or supplement product is considered a contravention under the Fertilizers Act, and may be subject to enforcement action.
If you have any questions about this document, please contact the Fertilizer Program, Crop Inputs Division at:
59 Camelot Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9
Telephone Number: 613-221-7519
Facsimile Number: 613-228-4552
