July 22, 2022
Significant amendments were made to the Fertilizers Regulations in 2020 that affect the manufacture, sale, import and export of regulated fertilizers and supplements. The new regulations came into effect October 26, 2020, with a 3-year transition until October 26, 2023.
The goal of the regulatory modernization was to:
- streamline requirements
- reduce administrative and regulatory burden on industry
- foster innovation in the agricultural sector while strengthening risk-based decision making, consumer safety and environmental protection
The amended regulations contain a transitional provision that allows regulated parties to comply with either the former ("old") or the current ("new") regulations for a period of 3 years until October 26, 2023. This transition was designed to give industry time to adjust to the new regulatory requirements and exhaust the old stock in the retail chain.
While the regulatory amendments introduced a number of new provisions that reduce regulatory burden on regulated parties, some require an up-front investment of time and resources from the fertilizer and supplement industry to meet their regulatory obligations. This includes, but is not limited to, registration of products that have previously been exempt (for example fertilizers containing micronutrients), bilingual labelling, and new record-keeping requirements.
The "new" regulations have industry-wide impact: be ready and help us communicate the changes
The end of the regulatory transition period on October 26, 2023, is fast approaching, which impacts the entire fertilizer distribution chain from manufacture to retail. Regulated parties should adjust business processes and operation as early as possible to ensure ongoing product compliance once the old regulations are no longer in effect.
It is critically important that importers, manufacturers, blenders, distributors and retailers of fertilizers and supplements across the country are aware of the regulatory changes and the upcoming "new" requirements. This is of particular significance for downstream producers – companies that purchase and mix certain fertilizers and supplements in their final formulations (for example growing media with coated fertilizers). These companies rely on their suppliers to ensure that the upstream product is in compliance (registered as required and labelled properly) before they purchase it and before they can print the new compliant labels for their final mixed products.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has put considerable effort in raising awareness of regulatory changes and their impact on regulated parties across the fertilizer and supplement value chain. This included:
- redesigning the external CFIA website to reflect the "new" vs. the "old" regulations
- updating all industry reference materials (trade memoranda)
- hosting information webinars and question and answer sessions
- answering written queries from prospective applicants
- giving presentations at the annual stakeholder meetings of the Canadian Fertilizer Products Forum
- working in close collaboration with the key national industry associations: Fertilizer Canada and the Fertilizer and Supplement Advisory Committee
- presenting the key elements of change to the regulatory framework to associations, such as the Compost Council of Canada, the Canadian Water and Waste Water Association, and others
- presenting Canadian regulatory changes at the international forum (American Association of Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO))
- bilateral communications with individual companies to assist them in the transition
Contact information
If you have questions or need access to the available reference materials mentioned above, please contact Ewa Madey, National Manager, Fertilizer Safety Section, Plant Health and Biosecurity Directorate
Email: Ewa.Madey@inspection.gc.ca
Phone: 1-343-552-1918